Laparoscopic versus conventional colorectal resection: a prospective randomised study of postoperative ileus and early postoperative feeding.

Background: A shorter duration of postoperative ileus and earlier oral alimentation of patients may be a clinically relevant benefit of laparoscopic compared with conventional colorectal resection.

Patients/methods: A total of 60 patients were randomised to either laparoscopic (n=30) or conventional (n=30) resection of colorectal tumours. Major endpoints were the postoperative time to the first bowel movement and the time until oral feeding without parenteral alimentation was tolerated.

Solid materials with high dielectric constants for hyperthermia applications.

The manufacture of solid components with high permittivities epsilon r of 1-100 and differing conductivities sigma of 0-1.0 S/m has practical significance for fabricating applicators and phantoms in radiofrequency hyperthermia. For this purpose, various plastics (resins, polyurethane and silicone) were combined with additives (graphite and metal powder) and tested to assess their radiofrequency and mechanical characteristics and to identify manufacturing problems.

Effects of cholecystokinin-receptor agonists on cortical 5-HT release in guinea pigs on the X-maze.

Exposure of guinea pigs to the elevated plus maze (X-maze), an animal model of anxiety, causes an increase of extracellular serotonin (5-HT) in the lateral prefrontal cortex monitored by microdialysis. The neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) plays a role in the modulation of anxiety. To compare the roles of CCK receptors, the effects of the CCK-A receptor agonist A-71378, the CCK-A/B receptor agonist CCK-8S and the CCK-B receptor agonist BOC-CCK-4 on anxiety-related behavior and the 5-HT release in the prefrontal cortex were determined.

TEL-AML1 fusion transcript in relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Study Group.

The cryptic translocation t(12;21)(p13;q22) has been recently recognized as the most common genetic rearrangement in B-lineage childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The resulting fusion transcript, termed TEL-AML1, has been associated with an excellent prognosis at initial ALL diagnosis. Hence, we postulated that the incidence of TEL-AML1 fusion should be lower in patients with ALL relapse.

Determination of lipoic acid by precolumn derivatization with monobromobimane and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new method for the quantitation of lipoic acid in plasma and tissues based on the selective precolumn derivatization of thiols with the fluorescent label monobromobimane is described. After extraction with diethyl ether, the dithiolane ring of lipoic acid is opened by reduction with NaBH4 before the free thiols can react with the label. Separation and quantitation was achieved by reversed-phase HPLC and fluorescence detection.

Unilateral fetal mesencephalic grafts in intact rats reduce amphetamine-induced dopamine release in both striata. An in vivo voltammetric study.

This study investigated amphetamine-induced striatal dopamine release after intraventricular unilateral fetal mesencephalic grafts in otherwise intact rats. Dopamine was monitored in vivo by differential pulse voltammetry. In grafted animals, amphetamine-induced dopamine release was decreased compared to sham-grafted, age-matched controls.

Pathophysiological aspects of human neurodegenerative diseases.

This review summarizes the most intriguing topical pathophysiological theories that contribute to current molecular understanding of the most important adult-onset human neurodegenerative diseases, namely Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The pathophysiological aspects discussed include genetic linkages, involvement of cytokines and excitotoxic amino acids, contribution of oxidative stress, roles of neurotrophic factors and beta-amyloid deposition, the significance of apoptotic cell death and possible risk factors. An attempt is made to point out common characteristics of these neurodegenerative diseases.

Cortical 5-HT-CCK interactions and anxiety-related behaviour of guinea-pigs: a microdialysis study.

Serotonin (5-HT) and cholecystokinin (CCK) are involved in the development of anxiety. There are only few data suggesting interactions between CCK and 5-HT under aversive conditions. In our study the cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) (10 microg/kg) induced 'anxious' behaviour and potentiated the increase of 5-HT release on the elevated plus maze (X-maze).

Influence of alpha-cyclodextrin and hydroxyalkylated beta-cyclodextrin derivatives on the in vitro corneal uptake and permeation of aqueous pilocarpine-HCl solutions.

Interactions in aqueous solution between pilocarpine hydrochloride (P-HCl), a rather hydrophilic drug with good water solubility, and various cyclodextrins (CDs) were described recently. To assess the influence of CDs on the diffusion behavior of pilocarpine, in vitro studies were performed using porcine or bovine corneas as diffusion barriers. The affinity of P-HCl for porcine cornea in the presence of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) and (hydroxyethyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (HE-beta-CD) was determined by drug uptake experiments.

Differential localization of brain systems subserving memory for names and faces in normal subjects with event-related potentials.

Evidence from brain-damaged patients suggests different memory systems for verbal and nonverbal stimuli which also have different neuroanatomical substrates. We explored whether the scalp topographies of event-related potentials (ERPs) might confirm the dissociability of these systems. Unfamiliar faces and names were presented in separate conditions, study blocks alternating with recognition blocks.

Cholecystokinin increases extracellular dopamine overflow in the anterior nucleus accumbens via CCK(B) receptors in the VTA assessed by in vivo voltammetry.

Differential pulse voltammetry was used to investigate the extracellular dopamine (DA) and DOPAC signal in the anterior part of nucleus accumbens (N.acc.) after microinjection of cholecystokinin (CCK) derivatives into the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Heat response of HT29 cells depends strongly on perfusion--a 31P NMR spectroscopy, HPLC and cell survival analysis.

A model system of perfused human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT29) encapsulated in alginate was used to examine metabolic response to heat therapy with 31P NMR spectroscopy, HPLC and cell survival analysis. The presented data show, that perfused (medium flow during hyperthermia) and non-perfused (no medium flow during hyperthermia) cells are very difficult in their sensitivity to hyperthermia. Under equivalent experimental conditions with respect to medium pH, oxygen and nutrient concentration, encapsulated perfused HT 29 cells display a significantly lower thermal sensitivity than non-perfused cells.

Partial advance information and response preparation: inferences from the lateralized readiness potential.

Response speed to a signal is faster when advance information about the forthcoming movement is provided before signal onset. Although this precuing effect is well established, the location of this saving in reaction time (RT) in the information-processing system is controversial. Some authors have claimed that the precuing effect resides at a motoric level, whereas others have suggested a nonmotoric locus.

Simulation studies promote technological development of radiofrequency phased array hyperthermia.

A treatment planning program package for radiofrequency hyperthermia has been developed. It consists of software modules for processing three-dimensional computerized tomography (CT) data sets, manual segmentation, generation of tetrahedral grids, numerical calculation and optimisation of three-dimensional E field distributions using a volume surface integral equation algorithm as well as temperature distributions using an adaptive multilevel finite-elements code, and graphical tools for simultaneous representation of CT data and simulation results. Heat treatments are limited by hot spots in healthy tissues caused by E field maxima at electrical interfaces (bone/muscle).

N2, P3 and the lateralized readiness potential in a nogo task involving selective response priming.

Motor inhibition and its correlates in the event-related potential (ERP) are often studied in go/nogo tasks. However, go and nogo trials differ in their motor and their attentional requirements, rendering an interpretation of corresponding changes in ERP components difficult. As an alternative strategy to study motor inhibition, a hybrid choice-reaction go/nogo procedure involving selective response priming was used.

Mapping protein-protein contact sites using cellulose-bound peptide scans.

We have characterized the interaction of two monoclonal antibodies with their respective antigens using cellulose-bound sets of overlapping peptides (peptide scans). Both antibodies CB/RS/5 and CB/MT/1 recognize discontinuous epitopes present in human interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). In addition, the interaction between TNF-alpha and its 55-kDa receptor (TNF-R) was investigated by the same approach.

Involvement of 5 -HT1D receptors in cortical extracellular 5-HT release in guinea-pigs on exposure to the elevated plus maze.

Previous studies have shown that guinea-pigs handled daily from birth exhibit on exposure to the elevated plus maze similar behaviour to rats and increased cortical extracellular 5-HT determined by in vivo microdialysis. The present study investigates the effects of a non-selective 5-HT(1) agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) and the 5-HT(1D) antagonist GR 127935 on behaviour and the release of cortical extracellular 5-HT both in a familiar environment and on exposure to the elevated plus maze. In the familiar environment of the home cage GR 127935 (0.

Fetal mesencephalic grafts decrease the rate of dopamine uptake in the non-lesioned striatum of unilaterally 6-OHDA lesioned rats: an in vivo voltammetric study.

In the present study the influence of intraventricular fetal mesencephalic grafts on the elimination rate of extracellular dopamine (DA) in the non-lesioned striatum of previously unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats was investigated. The elimination of DA was measured after electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle in vivo before and after treatment with the high affinity uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 (20 mg/kg i.p.

Grafts modulate dopamine transporters of the non-lesioned striatum.

The effect of intraventricular fetal mesencephalic grafts placed in the previously 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned striatum on the kinetics of [3H]dopamine (DA) uptake into striatal synaptosomes prepared from the non-lesioned (contralateral) striatum was studied in rats. Using WIN 35,065 as specific [3H]DA uptake inhibitor, the equilibrium dissociation constant (Km) of [3H]DA uptake into synaptosomes of the non-lesioned (contralateral) striatum did not differ between grafted and nongrafted controls 7 months after grafting. However, the maximal rate of specific [3H]DA uptake (Vmax) was markedly decreased in the non-lesioned striatum of grafted animals.

Differences in the effect of acute ischemia on late potentials in susceptible and resistant dogs for sudden cardiac death.

The low predictive value of the signal averaged ECG (SAECG) at rest may be due to the absence of any physiological perturbation. This study assessed changes of late potentials (LP) in the SAECG due to acute ischemia in five susceptible (S) and five resistant (R) dogs for sudden cardiac death. SAECGs were measured at rest prior to and during the last 3 min of 4 min transient occlusion of the left circumflex artery (CAO).

Pharmacokinetics of anti-ganglioside GD2 mAb 14G2a in a phase I trial in pediatric cancer patients.

A phase I trial of a murine anti-ganglioside (GD2) monoclonal antibody (mAb) 14G2a was conducted in 14 neuroblastoma patients and 1 osteosarcoma patient to assess its safety, toxicity and pharmacokinetics in pediatric patients. The pharmacokinetics of mAb 14G2a were biphasic with a t alpha 1/2 of 2.8 +/- 2.

Analysis of alternans in late potentials. Correlations between epicardial and body surface recordings.

The methodical performance of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram is strongly influenced by the beat-to-beat reproducibility of late potentials (LPs). Especially at higher heart rates, epicardial recordings from infarct regions show progressive beat-to-beat prolongations with alternating conduction block. To analyze the influence of beat-to-beat-alternans of LPs on the signal-averaging process, epicardial and body surface recordings were studied at different heart rates and extrastimulation.

3-O-methyl-DOPA is not involved in the development of behavioral supersensitivity after repeated L-dopa administration in 6-OHDA lesioned rats.

The underlying cause of long-term complications of L-DOPA therapy in Parkinson's disease is largely unknown. Recently, centrally and peripherally acting catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors became available. These drugs are capable of inhibiting the generation of 3-O-methyl-DOPA (3-OMD), a major metabolite of L-dopa developing considerable plasma levels during L-dopa therapy.

Fetal mesencephalic grafts influence the dopamine release in the non-lesioned striatum of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats: a behavioral and in vivo voltammetric study.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of intraventricular fetal mesencephalic grafts on the non-lesioned nigro-striatal system of rats with unilateral lesions of dopaminergic neurones in the medial forebrain bundle and to analyze the involvement of the non-lesioned side in functional recovery due to grafts in this model. Grafts placed to the lesioned striatum produced a continuous decrease of apomorphine (APO, 0.25 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.