Exposure to cerebrospinal fluid of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients alters Nav1.6 and Kv1.6 channel expression in rat spinal motor neurons.

Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) from patients with ALS has been documented to have a toxic effect on motor neurons both in vivo and in vitro. Here we show that the CSF from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients (ALS-CSF) has the potential to perturb ion channel expression, specifically the Na(v)1.6, and K(v)1.6 channels in newborn rat spinal motor neurons both in vivo and in vitro. ALS-CSF and CSF from nonALS patients (nonALS-CSF) were intrathecally injected into 3-day-old rat pups at the rate of 1 microl/2.5 min using a microinjector. In addition, embryonic rat spinal cord cultures were also exposed to 10% ALS or nonALS-CSF on the 9th day in vitro (9DIV) in serum free DMEM medium. After 48 h of CSF exposure, the cultures and the spinal cord sections were processed for immunostaining of the above mentioned ion channels. We observed a decrease in the expression of Na(v)1.6 and K(v)1.6 channels in motor neurons in ALS-CSF treated group, and the presence of trophic factors like Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor CNTF partially reversed the effects produced by ALS-CSF. Altered expression of these voltage-gated channels may interfere with the electrical activity of motor neurons, and thereby lead to the degeneration of neurons.

Use of a hypogastric flap and split-thickness skin grafting for a degloving injury of the penis and scrotum: A different approach.

Penile and scrotal skin avulsions are not common events and are caused usually by accidents with industrial machines or agricultural machines. We report a case of a 27-year-old newly married thin-built patient with avulsion and traumatic degloving of the penile and scrotal skin, with exposure of the corpora cavernosa and copus spongiosum of penis and testes as his loose clothes got entangled in a paddy harvesting machine accidently. Reconstruction was performed using a hypogastric flap and split skin graft, achieving a satisfactory aesthetic result and sexual functions.

Effect of chronic vibration on the immune state of albino rats.

A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of whole body chronic vibration on the immune system. Albino rats were exposed to whole body horizontal vibration acceleration 5.0 g, frequency 20 Hz for 3 hours per day for 3 months and changes were observed in plasma corticosterone level, total leucocyte count and differential leucocyte count. Neutrophil functions were accessed by candida phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test. The total leucocyte count was significantly decreased. A marked lymphopenia was observed in the differential count of the leucocytes. A significant increase in the plasma corticosterone level, candida phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was observed, indicating chronic whole body vibration to be a potent stressor in albino rats.