Role of ionotropic glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs on the firing activity of neurons in the external pallidum in awake monkeys.

The neurons in the external segment of the pallidum (GPe) in awake animals maintain a high level of firing activity. The level and pattern of the activity change with the development of basal ganglia disorders including parkinsonism and hemiballism. The GPe projects to most of the nuclei in the basal ganglia.

Sleeve resection of a transcarinal bronchial carcinoid after laser debulking.

We report a case of a bronchial carcinoid tumor extending from the right upper lobe into the left mainstem bronchus in a 30-year-old woman. Diagnosis was established by preoperative bronchoscopy and biopsy. After extensive debulking with seven sessions of bronchoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser therapy, the tumor was resected by right upper-lobe sleeve lobectomy.

Routine preoperative upper endoscopy for laparoscopic gastric bypass: is it necessary?

Upper endoscopy is often performed in patients undergoing bariatric procedures. Various pathologies may be found during upper endoscopy that may change treatment plans for these patients. This study tested the hypothesis that routine use of upper endoscopy is necessary before laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and breast cancer: genetic link or coincidental association?

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a low-grade cutaneous neoplasm originating from the dermis with a high propensity for local recurrence. These malignancies are classified as soft tissue sarcoma although regional or distance metastatic spread is rare. Germ-line mutations of p53 have been described with a rare autosomal dominant syndrome in patients with soft tissue sarcoma and breast adenocarcinoma (Li Fraumeni's syndrome).

Evaluation of specialized laparoscopic suturing and tying devices.

Background: Laparoscopic suturing and tying constitute advanced minimally invasive surgery skills. Developing proficiency in the standard methods with needle drivers is often an arduous process. Recent advances in laparoscopic instrumentations has allowed for easier methods of suturing and tying.

Rat intralaminar thalamic nuclei projections to the globus pallidus: a biotinylated dextran amine anterograde tracing study.

The topographical organization and ultrastructural features of the intralaminar thalamic nuclei (ITN) projections to the globus pallidus (GP) were studied using the biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) anterograde tracing method in the rat. To assess the functional association of BDA injection sites in the ITN, the known topographical organization of the ITN-neostriatal (Str) projections and calcium binding protein (CaBP) immunostaining patterns of the Str and GP were used. BDA injection in the lateral part of the lateral parafascicular nucleus and the caudal part of the central lateral nucleus labeled fibers and boutons mainly in the dorsolateral sensorimotor territory of the Str and the middle territories of the GP.

Laparoscopic wedge resection of gastric leiomyoma.

Gastric leiomyoma is a relatively rare gastric neoplasm. Before the routine use of laparoscopy, various methods of treatment for gastric leiomyoma included open celiotomy with gastric wedge resection, partial gastrectomy, enucleation, and extended gastrectomy with en bloc resection of adjacent organs. Below, we describe a case of laparoscopic wedge resection and review the various laparoscopic techniques for the treatment of gastric leiomyoma.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and structural studies on N1 and C5 substituted cycloalkyl analogues of the pyrazole class of CB1 and CB2 ligands.

A series of N1 and C5 substituted cycloalkyl and C5 4-methylphenyl analogues of the N-(piperidin-1-yl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide class of cannabinoid ligands were synthesized. The analogues were evaluated for CB1 and CB2 receptor binding affinities and receptor subtype selectivity. The effects of pyrazole substitution on ligand conformation and as such receptor affinities was not readily apparent; therefore, the geometries of the N1 and C5 substituents relative to the pyrazole ring were studied using high field NMR spectroscopy and systematic molecular mechanics geometry searches.

Frequency dependence of the cardiac threshold to alternating current between 10 Hz and 160 Hz.

It is still unclear what fundamental criteria influence the ability of alternating current (AC) to induce ventricular fibrillation (VF) in vivo. As the VF threshold has a bowl-shaped relationship with frequency (showing a minimum threshold at some frequency), similar to the nervous system, one proposed model has assumed that the mechanisms underlying AC stimulation of nerves are at work for VF induction. More recent work has suggested a second approach, whereby a simple RC-like model is sufficient to understand the cardiac AC stimulation threshold's frequency dependence, suggesting that some unarticulated mechanism is at work for VF.

The myth of the short esophagus.

Background: The advent of laparoscopic surgery has increased the number of fundoplications performed today. With the increase in laparoscopic fundoplications, the reports of short esophagus continue to increase. This investigation was undertaken to review our data regarding the entity described as "short esophagus.

Activation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors presynaptically reduces both GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in the rat globus pallidus.

To investigate the role of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the globus pallidus (GP), whole-cell recordings were performed using rat brain slice preparations. Application of the group III mGluRs specific agonist L(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) suppressed the amplitude of striatal stimulation-induced IPSCs and internal capsule stimulation-induced EPSCs in most of the GP neurons that were capable of generating repetitive firing without spike accommodation. The suppression of IPSCs and EPSCs was accompanied by an increase in the paired-pulse ratio.

Complete femoral artery transection from blunt trauma.

Complete common femoral artery transection from blunt trauma without bony injury is a rare event. Below we report upon a young cyclist who sustained complete transection of the common femoral artery following blunt trauma. The patient was managed successfully by graft repair of the transected artery.

Synthesis and testing of novel phenyl substituted side-chain analogues of classical cannabinoids.

A series of novel phenyl substituted side-chain analogues of classical cannabinoids were synthesized and their CB1 and CB2 binding affinities were evaluated relative to Delta(8)-THC and compound 2. CB1 and CB2 binding assays indicate that the dimethyl and ketone analogues (3) and (6) display selectivity for the CB2 receptor in comparison to delta(8)-THC and compound 2. This study provides newer insights into the geometrical and functional group requirements of the ligand binding pockets of the CB1 and the CB2 receptors.

Synthesis and testing of novel classical cannabinoids: exploring the side chain ligand binding pocket of the CB1 and CB2 receptors.

A series of C3 cyclic side-chain analogues of classical cannabinoids were synthesized to probe the ligand binding pocket of the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The analogues were evaluated for CB1 and CB2 receptor binding affinities relative to delta(8)-THC. The C3 side-chain geometries of the analogues were studied using high field NMR spectroscopy and quantum mechanical calculations.

Cardioprotection through a PKC-dependent decrease in myofilament ATPase.

Activation of myocardial kappa-opioid receptor-protein kinase C (PKC) pathways may improve postischemic contractile function through a myofilament reduction in ATP utilization. To test this, we first examined the effects of PKC inhibitors on kappa-opioid receptor-dependent cardioprotection. The kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50,488H (U50) increased postischemic left ventricular developed pressure and reduced postischemic end-diastolic pressure compared with controls.

Higher-level systematics of rodents and divergence time estimates based on two congruent nuclear genes.

Phylogenetic analysis of over 4600 aligned nucleotide sequences from two nuclear genes, growth hormone receptor and BRCA1, provided congruent phylogenies depicting relationships among the major lineages of rodents. Separate and combined analyses resulted in five major conclusions: (1) strong support for a monophyletic Myodonta (containing the superfamilies Muroidea + Dipodoidea), with subfamily Gerbillinae being more closely related to Murinae than is Sigmodontinae; (2) a sister-group relationship between the family Castoridae and the superfamily Geomyoidea; (3) monophyly of Ctenohystrica (containing the suborders Sciuravida and Hystricognatha); (4) a near polytomy among Myodonta (suborder Myomorpha), Pedetes (family Pedetidae, suborder Anomaluromorpha), Castoridae (suborder Sciuromorpha) + Geomyoidea (suborder Myomorpha), and Ctenohystrica; and (5) basal position of a monophyletic group containing Graphiurus (family Gliridae, suborder Myomorpha) + two members of the Sciuromorpha (Sciuridae + Aplodontidae). Divergence dates among rodents and primates were also estimated using the combined data.

Synchronous occurrence of glioblastoma multiforme and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Synchronous malignancies are rare occurrences for which there may be a genetic link between two cancers or which may be simply coincidental. Although glioblastoma multiforme and esophageal adenocarcinoma have few clinical similarities there are no known biochemical or genetic links between the two malignancies. This case discussion details the synchronous occurrences of these two lesions and highlights possible clinical, biochemical, and genetic commonalities.

Kinetic study of recombinant human protein disulphide isomerase-assisted C125A recombinant human interleukin-2 folding.

A kinetic model was developed to describe recombinant human protein disulphide isomerase (rhPDI)-assisted folding of a substrate protein, C125A recombinant human interleukin-2 (C125A rhIL-2). A series of progress curves showing native C125A rhIL-2 formation under different reaction conditions were generated. Non-linear regression analysis of the progress curves of rhPDI-assisted C125A rhIL-2 folding was used to fit the differential equations of the described kinetic models.

The quality of information about laparoscopic bariatric surgery on the Internet.

Background: Although easy access to the Internet can provide much information for patients, the quality and accuracy of information are uncertain. This investigation evaluated information concerning laparoscopic bariatric surgery available via the Internet.

Methods: Searches on the six most popular search engines and two metasearch engines were performed.

Renal allograft loss as the result of polyomavirus interstitial nephritis after simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation: results with kidney retransplantation.

Background: Polyomavirus (PV) infection in kidney transplant patients has been reported to cause interstitial nephritis and subsequent graft loss. The cornerstone of current therapy is a reduction in immunosuppression, which can subsequently lead to kidney allograft rejection. This dilemma becomes even more challenging in the setting of simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation, because a reduction in immunosuppression may result in rejection of the pancreas allograft.