Expression of a Constitutively Active Human Insulin Receptor in Hippocampal Neurons Does Not Alter VGCC Currents.

Memory and cognitive decline are the product of numerous physiological changes within the aging brain. Multiple theories have focused on the oxidative, calcium, cholinergic, vascular, and inflammation hypotheses of brain aging, with recent evidence suggesting that reductions in insulin signaling may also contribute. Specifically, a reduction in insulin receptor density and mRNA levels has been implicated, however, overcoming these changes remains a challenge. While increasing insulin receptor occupation has been successful in offsetting cognitive decline, alternative molecular approaches should be considered as they could bypass the need for brain insulin delivery. Moreover, this approach may be favorable to test the impact of continued insulin receptor signaling on neuronal function. Here we used hippocampal cultures infected with lentivirus with or without IRß, a constitutively active, truncated form of the human insulin receptor, to characterize the impact continued insulin receptor signaling on voltage-gated calcium channels. Infected cultures were harvested between DIV 13 and 17 (48 h after infection) for Western blot analysis on pAKT and AKT. These results were complemented with whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of individual pyramidal neurons starting 96 h post-infection. Results indicate that while a significant increase in neuronal pAKT/AKT ratio was seen at the time point tested, effects on voltage-gated calcium channels were not detected. These results suggest that there is a significant difference between constitutively active insulin receptors and the actions of insulin on an intact receptor, highlighting potential alternate mechanisms of neuronal insulin resistance and mode of activation.

Electrical probe characteristic recovery by measuring only one time-dependent parameter.

Two straightforward methods for recovering the current-voltage characteristic of an electrical probe are proposed. Basically, they consist of replacing the usual power supply from the probe circuit with a capacitor which can be charged or discharged by the probe current drained from the plasma. The experiment requires the registration of only one time-dependent electrical parameter, either the probe current or the probe voltage. The corresponding time-dependence of the second parameter, the probe voltage, or the probe current, respectively, can be calculated using an integral or a differential relation and the current-voltage characteristic of the probe can be obtained.

The effect of pregabalin - codeine combination on partial sciatic nerve ligation - induced peripheral mononeuropathy in rats.

The present study investigates the effects of pregabalin (PGB) and codeine (COD) combination on neuropathic hyperalgesia in an animal model of peripheral nerve injury represented by partial sciatic nerve ligation. Hot plate and analgesimeter tests were performed to evaluate the influence of PGB, COD and their combination on thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in the hind paw with partial sciatic nerve ligation. Reactivity was evaluated by measuring the latency to withdrawal of the operated hind paw from the noxious heat and pressure stimulation. Nociceptive thresholds were evaluated before (baseline) and in the 1(st), 3(rd), 5(th) and 7(th) day after surgical procedure. The investigation demonstrates that the treatment with PGB attenuated partial sciatic nerve ligation development of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in rats operated hind paw. The oral administration, during 14 consecutive days of PGB-COD combination significantly reduced the degree of both thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in the hind paw with partial sciatic nerve ligation. These results suggest that the association of PGB with COD exerted ameliorative effect on partial sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain in rats.

[Efficacy of a combined Sabal-urtica preparation in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results of a placebo-controlled double-blind study]. / Symptomatische Wirksamkeit eines Sabal-urtica-Kombinationspräparats in der Therapie des benignen Prostatasyndroms. Ergebnisse einer plazebokontrollierten Doppelblindstudie.

UNLABELLED: This re-evaluation of a double-blind placebo-controlled therapeutic study of the combined sabal-urtica preparation PRO 160/120 investigates the changes in the irritative symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) under the test substance in comparison with placebo. It was found that, over the study period of 24 weeks, the micturition symptoms frequency and urgency were statistically significantly improved under the well-tolerated PRO 160/120 in comparison with placebo. The patient's quality of life was also significantly better under PRO 160/120 in comparison with placebo. CONCLUSION: The often distressing symptoms of BPH can be effectively ameliorated already after only a few weeks of treatment with the sabal-urtica preparation PRO 160/120. In particular those patients with the stigmatizing symptoms urinary urgency and frequency benefit from such treatment.

Spectrophotometric determination of germaninm(IV) with bromopyrogallol red.

A method is proposed for the spectrophotometric determination of germanium with Bromopyrogallol Red. A red-violet coloured complex is formed at pH 2-3, with a stoichiometry equivalent to Ge(BPR)(2), and a molar absorptivity of 20.5 x 10(3) at 550 mmu. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0.2-3 ppm. Germanium in cupriferous ores has been determined by the method.

Germanomolybdic acid and its reaction with basic organic dyestuffs-I Spectrophotometric determination of ge(iv) with xanthene dyes.

The interaction between germanomolybdic acid and four xanthene dyes (Rhodamine B, Rhodamine 6G, Rhodamine S and Pyronine G) is studied and the conditions for spectrophotometric determination of Ge(IV) with these reagents are established.

Contributions to the analytical chemistry of osmium and ruthenium-IX: the dimercapto derivatives of asymmetric triazine as colour reagents for osmium.

The parameters of the reaction of osmium with 3,5-dimercapto-6-(ethylcarboxy)-1,2,4-triazine have been studied and the optimum conditions for the spectrophotometric determination of osmium over the range 0.5-18.0 ppm determined. The coloured product contains the components in the ratio 1:2 metal:ligand.

Spectrophotometric study of the reaction of Hg(II) with cadion A and cadion 2B.

The reaction between Hg(II) and Cadion A and Cadion 2B has been studied. Methods are suggested for the determination of Hg(II) in the 0.1-4 ppm range with Cadion A and in the 0.2-8 ppm range with Cadion 2B. Of the 49 ions studied only Hg(I), Sn(II), Br(-), I(-), MnO(-)(4), EDTA, SCN(-), CN(-) and S(2-) interfere. The combination ratios and instability constants of the Hg-Cadion complexes were determined. The structural formulae of the complexes were deduced from the infrared spectra and elemental and thermogravimetric analyses.

Disseminated tuberculosis with gradual evolution and unusual localization.

We present a case of disseminated tuberculosis (pulmonary, skeletal and lymph nodes) accompanied by subcutaneous abscesses and with unusual localization, osteolytic lesions of the skull caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis. Although the patient was immunocompetent, the disease had a gradual and unexpected progression. In the malign forms of tuberculosis, treatment must be extended for a year or more.

[Early and late results after cryosurgical treatment of bladder neck obstructions (author's transl)]. / Früh- und Spätergebnisse nach kryochirurgischer Behandlung der Blasenhalsobstruktion

We report on late results of 100 risk patients, who were operated by cryosurgical technique because of bladder neck obstructions. Detailed representation of complications. The primary mortality was 5%. Controls after one year showed good functional results on 80% of the patients. 60% of the patients had sterile urine, whereas only 17% of the male patients had no infection before the operation. As to the anatomical results we could talk of a cryoprostatectomy in 25% of the cases. Because of a 20% failure cryosurgery remains a palliative operation, which can only be carried out on risk patients. Because of little hemorrhagic diathesis and the possibility to perform this operation under local anesthesia cryosurgical operations on the other hand are suitable for patients, who cannot be anesthetised. Otherwise these patients had needed a permanent catheter. We prefer shorter freezing times of 3--4 min. Essentially we could show the same functional results as other authors, who preferred longer freezing times, until they reached a certain temperature in the prostatic capsule. By shorter freezing times on the contrary we could avoid secondary transurethral resections of larger necroses. New disturbed micturition after cryosurgical treatment of the prostate is unusual. The question of a later recidivation is of secondary importance because of the primary high morbidity rate of the selected number of cases.

[Clinical study of the efficacy of albendazole treatment in human hydatidosis]. / Studiu clinic al eficientei tratamentului cu albendazol în hidatidoza umana.

A follow-up study of Albendazol effectiveness therapy in human hydatid diseases was carry out using WHO methodology. Albendazole was given at a dose of 10 mg/Kg body/day in cycles of 28 days separated by 14 days without treatment. The efficacy of chemotherapy was evaluated by clinical improvement and changes in the cyst's morphology (detachment and collapse of the cyst membrane and increased density of the cyst fluid). We performed this study in 134 patients with hydatidosis: 17 patients with pre and post surgery treatment, 50 patients with post surgery treatment and 67 patients with chemotherapy only. Albendazole was effective in the hydatid disease; the patients with complex chemotherapy treatment did not report any secondary hydatidosis during the follow-up period (max. 2 years); the patients with exclusive chemotherapy reported 79% successful response, only 21% of them remained with unchanged cyst's size, but with modified internal structure. The therapeutic response depends of the cyst's size and its visceral site.

[Exudative uveitis, chronic labial herpes and interstitial pneumonia in an HIV-positive child]. / Uveita exsudativa, herpes labial cronic si pneumonie interstitiala la un copil HIV pozitiv.

The paper presents the case of a 6 and a half year-old child, with marked hipotrophy in height and weight (15 kg weight, which make a deficit of about 6 kg). The right eye presented pupilar sinekies, loaded vitreous and two white-yellow exsudative coroidal placards. One of them was inter-maculo-papilar having 4DP in diameter, difuse margins and aspect, the other was infero-macular. The right eye vision was only 2/50 n.c. The child also presented cronical labial herpes and interstitial pneumony. The ELISA test (+) confirmed the HIV suspicion. The paper insisted on the herpetical ethiology of the corio-retineal exsudative lesions.

Persistent repeated measurements by magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrate minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a case report.

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE), previously referred to as infraclinical or subclinical is a precursor in the development of clinical hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The demonstration of MHE is done through neuropsychological testing in the absence of clinical evidence of HE, patients showing only a mild cognitive impairment. Neuropsychological tests employed consist of Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and portosystemic encephalopathy (PSE) test score. Unfortunately, there are numerous occasions when the tests prove irrelevant: in the situation of inexperienced investigators, the patient's poor education, vision problems or concurring central nervous system disease, all of which may delay or deviate from the correct diagnosis.

Skeletal and dentoalveolar changes in the maxillary bone morphology using two-arm maxillary expander.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dental and skeletal changes in the maxillary bone morphology, produced by two-arm rapid palatal expansion appliances. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 22 girls with an average age of 11.9 years treated with RPE appliances at the Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Timisoara, Romania. We evaluated the changes on study casts, using an optical 3D scanner--Activity 101 (SmartOptics) and also on radiographs. The level of statistical significance was set by comparing the changes between pre and post treatment values. We also used the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) to measure the strength of the association between the recorded measurements. The correlations were significant at p<0.05. RESULTS: Significant changes were found in intermolar width change, interpremolar width change, molar tipping and alveolar tipping. Less significant changes were found in molar rotation and palatal depth change. After rapid maxillary expansion, five of the 21 correlations were found to be statistically significant. Positive medium correlations were found between intermolar width change and alveolar tipping and between interpremolar width change and alveolar tipping. A negative medium correlation was found between palatal depth change and alveolar tipping. Weak, but statistically significant correlations were found between intermolar width change and interpremolar width change and between intermolar width change and palatal depth change. No statistically significant correlation was found between the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: This type of maxillary expander is capable of expanding the maxillary dentition and alveolar process, opening the midpalatal suture and changing the maxillary bone morphology. The most remarkable changes occurred in the transverse plane. Future research is required to evaluate a larger group of patients.

The thymus in myasthenic patients: correlation between mediastinal CT imaging and histopathological findings.

PURPOSE: To correlate computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the thymus with results from histologic examination of thymic tissue in myasthenic patients who underwent thymectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study, based on case series report, between January 2000 and December 2010 on 247 patients with generalized myasthenia gravis or myasthenic syndrome explored by CT using a specific protocol, in the Radiology and Medical Imaging Department of Fundeni Clinical Institute. All subjects in the study were operated and had a histologic evaluation. RESULTS: CT examinations of these 247 subjects showed remaining thymic mass, remnant of thymic tissue, fatty infiltration of the thymus and tumoral thymus or focal thymic mass. The results of histologic examination showed normal thymus, thymic lymphoid follicular hyperplasia, thymic atrophy, fatty infiltration and thymoma. CONCLUSION: It was a 100% correlation between CT examinations and intra-operative findings regarding the presents of focal thymic masses in our study. In the diagnostic of focal thymic mass, the only inter-disciplinary correlation is between radiological and macroscopic aspects. CT examination has a limited value in differential diagnosis between thymic lymphoid follicular hyperplasia and thymoma.

Updates in CT characterization of thymic epithelial tumors in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Thymic epithelial tumors have been traditionally classified into two main types: noninvasive and invasive thymoma. Several classifications have been proposed for thymic tumors, but according to these classifications, the prognosis of patients with thymomas varies considerably. Our purpose is to present different CT aspects according to various subtypes of thymic epithelial neoplasms based on the simplified World Health Organization classification. In this article, we will discuss and illustrate histologic and functional features of the thymus and a spectrum of thymic tumors associated with Myasthenia Gravis. Smooth contours and a round shape are the most suggestive of type A thymic epithelial tumors, whereas irregular contours and heterogeneous enhancement are the most suggestive of type C tumors. Calcifications are suggestive of type B tumors. CT findings may serve as predictors of postoperative recurrence or metastasis for the thymic epithelial tumors.

Updates in MRI characterization of the thymus in myasthenic patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the imaging appearance of the thymus in the myasthenic patients by using chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging, and, to correlate the chemical shift ratio (CSR) with pathologic findings after surgical excision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the past year, a total of 11 myasthenic patients (4 males, 7 females; age range of 26-65 years), have been investigated by MRI centered at the thymic lodge. Our protocol included a Dual-Echo technique, T1-weighted In-phase/Opposed-phase MR images in all patients. A chemical shift ratio (CSR) was calculated by comparing the signal intensity of the thymus gland with that of the chest wall muscle for quantitative analysis. For this purpose, we have used standard region-of-interest electronic cursors at a slice level of the maximum axial surface of the thymus. We have identified two patients groups: a thymic hyperplasia group and a thymic tumoral group. RESULTS: With the decrease in the signal intensity of the thymus gland at chemical shift, the MR imaging was evident only in the hyperplasia group. The mean CSR in the hyperplasia group was considerably lower than that in the tumor group, 0,4964 ± 0,1841, compared with 1,0398 ± 0,0244. The difference in CSR between the hyperplasia and tumor groups was statistically significant (P=0,0028). CONCLUSION: MR imaging using T1-weighted In-phase/Opposed-phase images could be a useful diagnostic tool in the preoperative assessment of the thymic lodge and may help differentiate thymic hyperplasia from tumors of the thymus gland.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy--a non-invasive method in evaluating focal and diffuse central nervous system disease.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy is a non-invasive method, which can be performed following a routine Magnetic Resonance investigation within the same examination, and can provide very useful molecular information related to the metabolism and function of the normal and pathological structures of the brain. Its role is increasing in the establishment of a clear diagnosis, in both focal and diffuse central nervous system diseases, and the tendency is to replace the histopathology test, in certain cases, with similar or sometimes better diagnostic accuracy. This paper summarizes the principle, method, and main clinical applications, standing as a guide to procedure performing and results interpretation.

EBV in pediatric neoplasia--intensity of infection as independent prognostic factor.

RATIONALE: Cancer disease is continuously rising worldwide as far as its incidence is concerned. Efforts were made in order to identify the etiologic factors. A good example for exogenous factors is Epstein Barr virus (EBV) which is largely spread worldwide, over 90% of the adult general population being infected by it. EBV is believed to be implicated in Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, etc. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we will try to present the experience of two centers in Cluj County involved in the treatment of pediatric cancer, focusing on the influence of the presence of Epstein Barr virus in the outcome of the neoplasia. METHODS AND RESULTS: we took into account the clinical data regarding histology, stage of the disease, titer of specific antibodies for EBV, serological and imagistic evaluations of the patients treated in a retrospective consecutive manner for 5 years--2005-2010. Regarding our cohort of 120 patients, we analyzed the items in the paper in detail together with the statistical analysis and searched for a link between the intensity of the infection of EBV and response, disease, free survival, toxicities of the treatment. DISCUSSION: there are few data concerning the influence of EBV regarding the outcome of pediatric neoplasia. The published studies suggest a positive influence of EBV especially in Hodgkin disease mixed cellular subtype. In this study, EBV negative patients do better than the EBV positive, but the infection with EBV protects the patients against hematological toxicities.