Antennular projections to the midbrain of the spiny lobster. I. Sensory innervation of the lateral and medial antennular neuropils

The organization of sensory afferents in the antennular nerve (AN) of the spiny lobster and the central arborization of the afferents in the lateral and medial antennular neuropils (LAN, MAN) were analyzed by backfilling the AN with biocytin. The MAN receives primarily thick afferents (diameter ≥ 10 μm) with a consistent pattern of arborization from the medial of the three major divisions of the AN. The LAN, in contrast, receives many thin to medium-sized afferents (diameter ≤ 0.3–5 μm), in addition some with diameters ≥ 5 μm, from the lateral and dorsal divisions of the AN. In contrast to the consistent pattern of arborization in the MAN, afferents projecting to the LAN arborize in widely different patterns. Serially arranged, orthogonal side branches that are suggestive of topographical representation of the serially arranged sensilla on the antennule contribute to the stratification of the LAN. Together with existing electrophysiological data, these morphological findings are consistent with the idea that the MAN receives primarily mechanosensory (largely statocyst) input, as previously thought, but that the LAN receives chemosensory as well as mechanosensory input. The chemosensory input to the LAN would represent a novel pathway for processing chemosensory input from the antennule.     

Altered islet Beta-cell function before the onset of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus

Summary To define the glucose to insulin dose-response relationship before the onset of diabetes, we studied 22 nondiabetic co-twins of patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and nine control subjects. All had intravenous glucose tests at 0.02, 0.1 and 0.5 g/kg and were followedup prospectively for at least 6 years. Seven twins developed diabetes a mean of 7 months later; the remaining 15 are now unlikely to develop diabetes. The seven pre-diabetic twins had higher fasting insulin levels than control subjects (4.2±2.0 vs 1.8±1.8 nmol/l; p<0.05); but lower glucose clearance (1.0±0.5 vs 1.9±0.7 %/min; p<0.05), first phase insulin response at 0.5 g/kg (21.1±23.2 vs 143±50 nmol/l; p<0.0001), and total insulin responses at 0.1 g/kg (p<0.05) and 0.5 g/kg (p<0.00005). Using a curve-fitting programme, the normal glucose to insulin relationship was lost in prediabetic twins who had lower coefficient of determination (R²) than control subjects (p<0.01). In contrast, 15 low-risk twins and their nine control subjects had similar fasting glucose and insulin levels, glucose clearance, R² and insulin secretory responses to different glucose loads. The positive predictive values of subnormal R² and subnormal first phase insulin response were 67 % and 58 % respectively. These observations demonstrate an altered glucose to insulin dose-response relationship and loss of maximum insulin secretory response to glucose before the onset of Type 1 diabetes.     

Hemolytic and sphingomyelinase activities of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin are dependent on a domain homologous to that of an enzyme from the human arachidonic acid pathway.

The N-terminal domain of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin, homologous with the nontoxic phospholipase C of Bacillus cereus, was expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to retain all of the phosphatidylcholine hydrolyzing activity of the alpha-toxin, but not the sphingomyelinase, hemolytic, or lethal activities. The C-terminal domain of alpha-toxin showed sequence and predicted structural homologies with the N-terminal region of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme from the human arachidonic acid pathway which plays a role in inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases in humans.     

A review of 2975 consecutive operations by one surgeon in an accredited outpatient plastic surgicentre: A Canadian experience

The present paper constitutes a retrospective review of 2975 consecutive operations performed by the author, one of the three owners of the Saskatoon Plastic Surgicentre. The unit opened in 1987; therefore, the study spans 17 years. Patients are not kept overnight, and the Surgicentre is approved and equipped as a level C facility for general anesthesia. Only patients who score 1 or 2 according to the American Association of Anesthesiologists are treated. Only certified anesthesiologists are used. Of the patients with postoperative complications, only two required transfer to a hospital. One developed a pneumothorax, which was treated on arrival at the intensive care unit with no sequelae. The other collapsed following facelift surgery. She was transferred to University of Saskatchewan hospital and died later that evening with a massive pulmonary embolus. In a properly established outpatient centre, a large number of patients can be safely treated with very few complications. However, despite placing patient safety as the first consideration and adhering strictly to the highest standards, death can occur.     

Urban Adolescents: What Are Their Health Needs?

Abstract A health needs assessment of inner-city, low-income adolescents was conducted by the staff of a nurse-managed, community-oriented primary care clinic. A multiethnic sample of 568 high school students was studied. The findings indicated that the most commonly used source of health care was the family doctor. Barriers to receiving care were fear and costs. Subjects reported insufficient knowledge about many health-related topics, and desired services in the areas of drug and substance use, reproduction and sexuality, family relations, mental health, and dental health. Eighty-four percent of the subjects were interested in using the services of a neighborhood clinic specifically for teens. Survey results were used for decision making, program planning, and implementation of a teen health clinic.     

Prognostic value of c-erbB-2 expression in uterine cervical carcinoma.

AIMS: To study the pattern of expression and prognostic importance of c-erbB-2 protein in cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Sixty two cases of stage IB/IIA cervical carcinoma, representing the three main tumour types, were investigated immunohistochemically for the presence of c-erbB-2 protein expression, using a monoclonal antibody (CB11) to its internal domain. Follow up of at least five years' duration was available in all cases. RESULTS: Definite membrane staining was seen in 38.7% of cases. There was a strong correlation with poor survival (p less than 0.0001) particularly. For those with adenocarcinomas, this was the case when nodal metastases were present. In contrast, for squamous carcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas, the association with a poor prognosis was most apparent in those patients without lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise the possibility that immunostaining for c-erbB-2 protein could be used as a prognostic marker and may help identify those patients for whom early adjuvant treatment might be beneficial.     

A new approach to massive blood transfusion during pediatric liver resection

Morbidity and death during liver resection in children are due to hemorrhage and the consequences of massive transfusion. To overcome these problems, a new rapid method of blood transfusion was used in four children (8 to 35 months, 8.6 to 13 kg) undergoing extensive hepatic resection for tumor (tumor weight, 440 to 1625 gm). The rapid infusion device consisted of a roller pump and a bubble oxygenator-warmer circuit primed with washed packed red cells resuspended in fresh-frozen plasma and calcium-free balanced salt solution (Plasmalyte). The infusate was warmed, oxygenated, and buffered before it was administered. An average of 5130 ml per patient of this reconstituted blood was infused at an average rate of 122 +/- 45 ml/min, with peak infusion rates sometimes as great as 1 L/min. Cardiac output, pulmonary artery wedge pressure, body temperature, urine output, blood gases, blood chemistries, and coagulation factors remained unchanged during and after these massive transfusions. Blood transfusion at rapid rates required during pediatric liver resection can be accomplished safely if the storage lesion of the bank blood is previously corrected.