Norepinephrine-evoked calcium transients in cultured cerebral type 1 astroglia.

We have used the CA++ indicator dye fura-2 AM and computerized imaging systems to investigate adrenergic regulation of intracellular calcium in cultured cerebral type 1 astroglia. We have found that norepinephrine (NE) and other adrenergic agonists stimulate increases in intracellular calcium in over 80% of type 1 astroglia tested. A wide range in effective NE concentrations was seen.

Granulocyte elastase in assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis. Comparison with acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and protease inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Complexes of granulocyte elastase and alpha 1-antitrypsin are markers for granulocyte activation. In 75 patients with acute pancreatitis these complexes were immunologically determined daily in plasma during the first week of hospitalization. Patients were classified into three groups: mild pancreatitis (I, less than or equal to 1 complication, N = 34), severe pancreatitis (II, greater than or equal to 2 complications, N = 29), lethal outcome (III, N = 12).

[Cholelithiasis--non-surgical intervention. Definitive and combined use].

New endoscopic and radiological techniques, together with pharmacological developments, prompted by high-surgical risk patients or those developing bile duct stones after prior cholecystectomy--but also by the wish to have less invasive alternatives available, have led to a variety of non-operative therapeutic modalities in gallstone diseases. Both endoscopic and radiological procedures are employed to remove stones from the biliary tract and gallbladder. Extracorporeal lithotripsy and chemical litholysis are being increasingly employed to treat gallbladder stones.

Technical aid for facilitating emergency endoscopy.

Emergency endoscopy is usually complicated by unfavorable examination conditions. The irrigating capability of the instrument is inadequate. The use of an easy-to-operate volume- and pressure-driven irrigation pump has proved very efficient and safe in the hands of an experienced endoscopist, and helps establish the correct diagnosis or provide proper treatment.

Endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy using a modified instrument for puncture of the abdominal wall and the stomach.

A new instrument for the puncture of the abdominal wall and stomach while performing endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy is described. It has several advantages as compared with the instruments used so far, one of which is that it makes the method safer and easier.

Vasoactive pharmacologic responses of human skin xenografts in ciclosporin-treated rats.

Human skin xenografts in ciclosporin-treated rats have been reported to preserve many of the characteristics of normal human skin. This model was used to study the cutaneous responses of human skin xenografts and host rat skin to intradermal injections of vasoactive agents. The xenograft responses to corticosteroids (blanching), nicotinic acid (erythema), histamine HCl (urticaria), and privine (blanching) all paralleled those of the host rat skin.

Expression of beta-adrenergic receptors by astrocytes isolated from adult rat cortex.

Astrocytes are the most numerous cell type in the central nervous system. When cultured, these cells express a wide variety of receptors for neurotransmitters. Nonetheless, it has yet to be firmly established that adult astrocytes in situ express receptors for neurotransmitters.

Four-year prognostic value of exercise-induced angina and painless ST segment depression early after myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to establish if angina pectoris and silent ST segment depression during pre-discharge exercise tests are predictive of 4 years survival after myocardial infarction. Accordingly, 377 consecutive hospital survivors of myocardial infarction underwent symptom-limited bicycle ergometry at hospital discharge. Sixty-eight patients had angina during exercise, 124 patients had silent ST segment depression and 184 had neither angina nor ST depression.

Social fate and long-term survival of patients with a recent myocardial infarction, after cardiac rehabilitation.

The aim of this study was to assess the social fate (work resumption) and long-term (four years) survival in 141 patients who completed a cardiac rehabilitation programme after a recent myocardial infarction. Out of the 100 patients who had been working up to recently before the myocardial infarction, 58 resumed their work. Of the predischarge evaluation (clinical data, resting radionuclide ventriculography, bicycle ergometry and 24-h ambulatory ECG monitoring) and bicycle ergometry after the rehabilitation, the only significant predictor of work resumption was a better exercise tolerance at discharge (P less than 0.

Alterations in supraoptic nucleus ultrastructure of maternally behaving virgin rats.

Adult, nulliparous female rats were induced to behave maternally via constant cohousing with rat pups. After exhibiting maternal behaviors for 3 days, the animals were transcardially perfused, the supraoptic nuclei (SON) excised and examined quantitatively by transmission electron microscopy. Relative to virgin controls, the animals behaving maternally were found to have significant increases in: a) mean number of dendrites in large (9-12) dendritic bundles, b) mean area per single dendritic profile, c) area of the dendritic zone occupied by dendritic profiles and d) size of the dendritic zone.

[Posthepatic jaundice caused by abnormalities of the pancreaticobile duct system in early childhood].

Anomalies of the pancreatico-biliary tract present the most frequent cause of posthepatic cholestasis in the young child, whereas calculous disease or infections or compression by vascular abnormalities or neoplasms are less frequent. Generally, abdominal pain and jaundice begin acutely and increase following progressive biliary congestion. The preoperative diagnosis by ERCP or PTC or the intraoperative diagnosis of a relevant pancreaticobiliary anomaly stress the necessity of an operative management performing a bypass of the Sphincter Oddi and of the site of the anomaly.

[A new Y-endoprosthesis for drainage of bile duct obstruction of the hepatic bifurcation].

Biliary decompression in cases of central tumorous biliary obstruction requires surgical or internal/external catheter bypass techniques. The development of a 14-F Y-shaped-polyurethane endoprosthesis stent provides the possibility to drain the left and right biliary system simultaneously. The endoprosthesis is placed by a combination of external transhepatic and endoscopic approach.

Endoscopic percutaneous cecostomy (EPC).

Endoscopic decompression of the distended colon has become a useful method of treating non-obstructive colonic ileus. We propose a method of establishing a cecal fistula by means of percutaneous puncture of the colon and pull-through of a Pezzer catheter. Although until now we have only performed this procedure twice, it seems to be a valuable therapeutic approach in cases of paralytic distension of the large bowel.

[The value of ultrasound diagnosis in blunt abdominal and thoracic injuries].

In a prospective study, real-time ultrasonography was applied as the initial imaging procedure in 103 consecutive patients with blunt abdominal or thoracic trauma. Additional peritoneal lavage was not performed. Pathological findings were present in 22 patients (21%).

[Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. A new method for the diagnosis of bile duct malignancies].

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy combines the advantages of endoscopic and radiological examinations. It makes it possible to assess the intraluminal spread of bile duct disease as well as histological and cytological examination of biopsies obtained under vision. Eight PTCs were performed without complication in seven patients with cancer of the bile duct.