Adrenergic signalling between rat taste receptor cells

In taste buds, synaptic transmission is traditionally thought to occur from taste receptor cells to the afferent nerve. This communication reports the novel observation that taste receptor cells respond to adrenergic stimulation. Noradrenaline application inhibited outward potassium currents in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition was mimicked by the β agonist isoproterenol and blocked by the β antagonist propranolol. The α agonists clonidine and phenylephrine both inhibited the potassium currents and elevated intracellular calcium levels. Inwardly rectifying potassium currents were unaffected by adrenergic stimulation. Experiments using the RT-PCR technique demonstrate that lingual epithelium expresses multiple α (α1a, α1b, α1c, α1d, α2a, α2b, α2c) and β (β1, β2) subtypes of adrenergic receptors, and immunocytochemistry localized noradrenaline to a subset of taste receptor cells. Collectively, these data imply strongly that adrenergic transmission within the taste bud may play a paracrine role in taste physiology.     

Stereological evaluation of liver volume in living donor liver transplantation using MDCT via the Cavalieri method.

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), obtaining the precise volume of the graft is very important to decrease volume-related postoperative complications, especially in cases with suspected small-for size grafts. We used stereology based on the Cavalieri method (CM), a new method to measure liver graft volume, and compared the results with those obtained through intraoperative measurement (IOM) and through multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) measurement. Liver volumes estimated using the 3 methods were well-correlated with each other (r(2) = 0.94 and P < 0.001 for IOM and CM; r(2) = 0.91 and P < 0.001 for IOM and MDCT, and r(2) = 0.95 and P < 0.001 for CM and MDCT); however, they were different from each other (in descending order, 908 +/- 124 cm(2), 861 +/- 121 cm(2), and 777 +/- 168 cm(2) for MDCT, CM, and IOM, respectively). Although MDCT and CM overestimated the volumes, the results of CM were almost similar to those obtained via IOM. In conclusion, our results suggest that CM measured the liver graft volume more reliably. Thus, its use, particularly in cases with suspected small-for-size graft, may prove useful.     

Effect of pentoxifylline on veno-occlusive priapism-induced corporeal tissule lipid peroxidation in a rat model

Objective: To investigate whether pentoxifylline could play a role in attenuation of the hazardous effects of ischemia/reperfusion on corporeal tissue in a rat model of veno-occlusive priapism (VOP). Materials and methods: Placebo and pentoxifylline were given to eight groups of rats prior to priapism being induced by a vacuum constrictive device for durations of 6 and 12 h, respectively. Half of the groups of rats that underwent the same duration of priapism (ischemic) were subjected to 1 h of detumescence after band removal (reperfusion). One group underwent no manipulation and no drug administration and served as a baseline determination (control). Corporeal homogenates were examined for lipid peroxidation (LP) derived malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation via thiobarbituric acid assay. Results: MDA concentration differed significantly between VOP rats and controls (P < 0.001) but did not differ significantly between ischemic-only groups and reperfused groups (P > 0.05). In the pentoxifyllinepretreated groups, although MDA accumulation tended to be slightly lower than in the placebo groups, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) either in the 6- or 12-h duration priapic groups. Conclusions: LP, an indicator of radical oxygen metabolite (ROM) induced injury, occurs in rat corporeal tissue during and after abolishment of VOP. Single-dose pentoxifylline pretreatment failed to exert a protective effect on corporeal tissue in a rat model of VOP in terms of attenuation of LP.     

The Value of Lung Injury Score in Assessing the Outcome of Patients with Rib Fracture

Background and Purpose:   

Management of rib fractures constitutes a major part of the trauma workload of any unit. Rib fractures result in disrupted chest wall mechanics and ventilatory insufficiency. The ability of a lung injury scoring system to predict the degree of respiratory dysfunction after rib fractures was evaluated.     

Therapy of primary fallopian tube cancer--a retrospective study of 30 cases]

Between the years 1968-1988 30 patients with primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube were treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Kiel. In 27 cases the initial treatment consisted of total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In 3 cases where the patients had undergone surgical treatment in another hospital a second operation for completion was performed. 2 patients received no further treatment after surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 20 patients and a combined treatment with radiation and polychemotherapy was implemented in 5 cases. Postoperative treatment in 3 patients was poly-chemotherapy alone. The 5-year-survival rate taking all tumor stages and modes of therapy employed into consideration was 36.7%. In analysing the survival rate for small numbers as directly related to postoperative treatment a 5-year-survival rate for radiotherapy of 35% (7/20) and for radiation therapy plus poly-chemotherapy of 40% (2/5) was found. After operative treatment followed by poly-chemotherapy alone one of three patients survived after 5 years.     

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage associated with bilateral renal vein and vena cava thrombosis

Idiopathic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage with thrombosis of both renal veins and inferior vena cava are presented using US and CT in a newborn. To our knowledge such bilateral involvement of the adrenal glands and the renal veins have not been reported previously.     

Abdominal Stab Wounds in Children: an 18-Year Experience

Objective: Evaluation of the diagnosis, management, and the role of selective treatment in children with abdominal stab wounds. Patients and Methods: 59 children (56 male and three female) were included in the study. The patients' median age was 11.8 years (range, 5–14 years). Time between injury and admission was about 3 h. Laparotomy was performed in 44 patients (74%). Solid organ injury was detected in 32 of these patients (73%) and could not be observed in twelve (27%). 15 patients (26%) were treated conservatively, and only one (6.6%) underwent laparotomy during the follow-up. The stomach was the most frequently injured organ (ten patients), followed by the intestines (nine patients). Types of surgical treatment were as follows: primary suture in 28 patients, resection-anastomosis in three, and osteotomy in two. Results: Some prognostic factors such as presence of abdominal organ evisceration and pneumoperitoneum were not significantly correlated with intraabdominal organ injury, whereas some other risk factors such as acute abdomen on admission (p < 0.002) or abdominal clinical and hemodynamic findings (p < 0.001) showed significant correlation with intraabdominal organ injury. The relative risk (odds ratio) of developing an intraabdominal organ injury was > 2 for patients with signs of an acute abdomen on admission. Postoperative complications were observed in five patients with organ injuries. None of our patients died. Conclusions: Conservative treatment can be safely performed in most children with abdominal stab injuries. Signs of major internal hemorrhage or generalized peritonitis are an absolute indication for emergency operation for abdominal stab wounds. Peritoneal penetrations, free air on the abdominal X-ray, and omental or intestinal evisceration are poor indicators of significant organ injuries, and patients presenting these signs shold be closely followed up for developing acute abdominal symptoms. Received: November 2, 2001; revision accepted: February 15, 2002     

Lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte superoxide-dismutase activity and trace metals in young male footballers

Physical training is known to induce oxidative stress in individuals subjected to intense exercise. In this study, we investigated plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of 25 young male footballers and a control group of similar age. Red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) values, and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels were also examined. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of all subjects was determined in order to establish their functional capacity. The main finding of the present study was that plasma MDA levels, one of the most commonly used markers of lipid peroxidation, of this group of footballers aged under 21 decreased slightly when compared with those of the control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, erythrocyte SOD activity was higher in the footballer group than in the controls (p < 0.001). Footballers who are under regular training showed an improved antioxidant activity in comparison to sedentary controls. Plasma copper concentration, RBC count and Hb concentration of the footballer group were all significantly lower than those of the control group, (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Investigating the footballers' data with Spearman's correlation analyses, the correlation coefficients (r) between Zn/Cu ratio and SOD was positive (r=0.44; p < 0.05); and between VO2max and SOD (r=0.42; p < 0.05) were both positive. On the basis of statistical analysis, we suggest that regular exercise may be beneficial in cases of oxidative damage by reducing the amount of lipid peroxidation and increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD.