Cholinergic and non-cholinergic mesopontine tegmental neurons projecting to the subthalamic nucleus in the rat.

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) receives cholinergic and non-cholinergic projections from the mesopontine tegmentum. This study investigated the numbers and distributions of neurons involved in these projections in rats using Fluorogold retrograde tracing combined with immunostaining of choline acetyltransferase and a neuron-specific nuclear protein. The results suggest that a small population of cholinergic neurons mainly in the caudoventral part of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN), approximately 360 neurons (≈ 10% of the total) in the homolateral and 80 neurons (≈ 2%) in the contralateral PPN, projects to the STN.

Pediatric urolithiasis--does body mass index influence stone presentation and treatment?

Purpose: Pediatric obesity is a major public health concern in the United States. We investigated the association of body mass index with presentation and outcome in children with urolithiasis.

Materials And Methods: We identified all patients 2 to 18 years old at our institution with a radiographically confirmed first renal or ureteral stone between January 2003 and June 2008.

Staged total exclusion of the aorta for chronic type B aortic dissection.

Hybrid techniques using extra-anatomic bypass of critical aortic branches to enable endovascular treatment of complex aortic pathology have been previously described. A staged endograft repair of a complex, chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection with aneurysmal degeneration is reported in a 50-year-old man. The aneurysmal portion of the dissection extended from the distal arch to both common iliac arteries and was covered with an endograft from the ascending aorta to both external iliac arteries.

Enhanced enlargement of silicone ocular prostheses achieved by silicone gel (MED-361).

Recently, silicone prostheses have been used instead of acrylic ocular prostheses. The authors sought to assess the ability of silicone gel to facilitate the growth of an ocular silicone prosthesis and to determine the best application modality to achieve maximal possible growth. Two ocular prostheses with similar baseline dimensions and contour were used for comparison of growth environment.

Endovascular management of iliac rupture during endovascular aneurysm repair.

Background: Inadequate iliac artery diameter, calcification, and tortuosity are associated with increased incidence of iliac injury during abdominal (EVAR) and thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR). Despite careful preoperative assessment and use of iliac conduits, inadvertent iliac rupture is a source of morbidity and mortality. This report details our single-center, 10-year experience with intraoperative iliac artery rupture and describes a successful endovascular salvage technique.

Design and synthesis of novel tri-aryl CB2 selective cannabinoid ligands.

A novel series of cannabinoid ligands with a structurally unique tri-aryl core has been designed, synthesized and assayed. Receptor binding assays show that these compounds possess CB2 receptor sub-type selectivity with binding affinities ranging from 1.07 (+/-0.

Exploring the substituent effects on a novel series of C1'-dimethyl-aryl Delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol analogs.

The synthesis and characterization of novel C1'-phenyl-substituted Delta(8)-THC analogs were previously reported by our laboratory. Within this small series of compounds, the C1'-dimethyl phenyl group was found to impart 13.5-fold selectivity for the CB2 receptor with a K(i) 0.

Pancreas transplantation for diabetes mellitus: a guide to recipient selection and optimum immunosuppression.

Between 1966 and 1997, over 10 000 pancreas transplants were performed worldwide, 88% of these being simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantations (SKPTs). The overall 1-year patient survival rate exceeds 90%, and the graft survival (complete insulin independence) rate is 80%. SKPT should be regarded as the treatment of choice in carefully selected patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent; IDDM) diabetes mellitus and advanced nephropathy, because of its ability to offer superior glycaemic control and an improved quality of life.

Catheter-directed thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy of a thrombosed persistent sciatic vein in a patient with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome.

The authors report a case of a thrombosed persistent sciatic vein in a patient with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome diagnosed at magnetic resonance (MR) venography and its treatment with endovascular interventional techniques.

Globus pallidus external segment.

The external segment of the pallidum (GP(e)) is a relatively large nucleus located caudomedial to the neostriatum (Str). The GP(e) receives major inputs from two major basal ganglia input nuclei, the Str and the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and sends its output to many basal ganglia nuclei including the STN, the Str, the internal pallidal segment (GP(i)), and the substantia nigra (SN). Thus, the GPe can be placed at the center of the basal ganglia connection diagram (Fig.

Subepyndemal hemangioblastomas of the cervicomedullary junction: lessons learned in the management of two cases.

Objective: This retrospective case series analyzes two cases of hemangioblastomas in the cervicomedullary junction.

Methods: A survey of the pediatric staff and of the operative reports from medical records with a review of the literature and medical records of patients with the condition was conducted.

Results: Two patients were successfully treated surgically.

Structural and functional properties of antibodies to the superantigen TSST-1 and their relationship to menstrual toxic shock syndrome.

Menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) is an acute febrile disease accompanied by hypotension and multiple organ involvement. Infection with Staphylococcus aureus producing the superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) vaginally is necessary; however, only a small fraction of those infected with TSST-1 producing bacteria actually develop mTSS, suggesting that host factors modulate disease susceptibility. Serum antibodies to the toxin protect against development of the syndrome, but not all antibodies can neutralize the toxin.

Repetitive activation of glutamatergic inputs evokes a long-lasting excitation in rat globus pallidus neurons in vitro.

External globus pallidus (GPe) neurons express abundant metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) in their somata and dendrites and receive glutamatergic inputs mainly from the subthalamic nucleus. We investigated whether synaptically released glutamate could activate mGluR1s using whole cell and cell-attached recordings in rat brain slice preparations. Repetitive internal capsule stimulation evoked EPSPs followed by a slow depolarizing response (sDEPO) lasting 10-20 s.

Serotonin modulates pallidal neuronal activity in the awake monkey.

Serotonin (5-HT)-containing neurons in the dorsal raphe project to the external and internal segments of the pallidum, which express several 5-HT receptors. Although the involvement of 5-HT in basal ganglia movement control has been suggested, little is known about the physiological action of 5-HT in the pallidum. Previous anatomical studies and in vitro physiological studies in other brain areas have suggested the following possibilities: (1) 5-HT suppresses GABAergic inhibition through presynaptic 5-HT1B receptors; (2) 5-HT decreases the firing of pallidal neurons through postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors; and (3) 5-HT postsynaptically excites pallidal neurons through activation of 5-HT2C, 5-HT4, or 5-HT7 receptors.

Laparoscopic repair of traumatic bowel injury in children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the laparoscopic repair of isolated intestinal injuries in children who sustain focal abdominal trauma.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients 16 years and younger who required surgery for traumatic bowel injuries during a 5-year period at 2 university children's hospitals. The study population was composed of hemodynamically stable patients who sustained focal energy transfer to the abdomen and were diagnosed preoperatively with intestinal injury.

Nutrient absorption.

Interesting advances occurred recently in nutrient absorption. Kinetics of triacylglycerol appearance in endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lymph support the hypothesis that endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport is rate-limiting for lipid absorption. Apolipoprotein B does not appear necessary for initial formation of chylomicron-sized lipid particles in the endoplasmic reticulum, but rather for their movement out of the endoplasmic reticulum and to the Golgi.

Poor knowledge of basic cancer facts of physicians-in-training.

Purpose: Since many physicians-in-training will play an important role in cancer screening, their understanding of cancer screening and basic cancer facts is paramount. This investigation was undertaken to determine their baseline knowledge in basic cancer facts.

Method: A questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of basic cancer facts of medical students, medical residents and surgical residents.

1-Benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diols as novel affinity and photoaffinity probes for beta-adrenoceptor subtypes.

Trimetoquinol (TMQ, 1) is a potent non-selective beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) agonist possessing a tetrahydroisoquinoline (THI) structure. The binding site for 1-trimethoxybenzyl group of 1, which distinguishes it from classical catecholamines, is unknown. Affinity and photoaffinity labeled compounds are good tools to determine the exact interaction between a ligand and a specific amino acid(s) in a receptor.

Delivery of antiangiogenic agents for cancer gene therapy.

The understanding that tumor growth and metastasis are angiogenesis dependent processes has led to interest in targeting tumor vasculature in anticancer therapy. Furthermore, recent insights into the molecular interactions that orchestrate physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis have resulted in a variety of antiangiogenic strategies. A gene therapy-mediated approach for the delivery of antiangiogenic agents has several advantages, including the potential for sustained expression.

Adeno-associated virus vector-mediated delivery of pigment epithelium-derived factor restricts neuroblastoma angiogenesis and growth.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated delivery of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) to inhibit neuroblastoma (NB) xenograft growth. Pigment epithelium-derived factor was chosen for this study because, in addition to being a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis, it is capable of inducing neuronal differentiation.

Methods: Cohorts of mice received either recombinant AAV encoding human PEDF (rAAV-hPEDF) at a range of doses or control vector via tail vein.

A multicenter analysis of the significance of HLA matching on outcomes after kidney-pancreas transplantation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of HLA matching on outcomes in simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant (SKPT) recipients in a multicenter trial. From March 1999 to May 2001, a total of 297 SKPT recipients were enrolled in a prospective randomized trial of 2 daclizumab dosing strategies versus no antibody induction in combination with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids in SKPT recipients. Subanalyses using both univariate and multivariate models were performed at 1 year to identify factors associated with acute rejection, graft loss, or death.

Long-term outcome after implantation of the Prestige I disc in an end-stage indication: 4-year results from a pilot study.

Object: The long-term function of an artificial cervical disc device is critical to its clinical success. The Prestige I Cervical Disc System has been used clinically since June 1998, and long-term results can now begin to be assessed. The authors conducted clinical and radiographic examinations at 3 and 4 years postoperatively to evaluate the longterm performance of the Prestige I device.