Encapsulation of ethanol by spray drying technique: effects of sodium lauryl sulfate

Microcapsules composed of ethanol, water and dextrin as a water-soluble polymer can be used to encapsulate poorly water-soluble drugs by spray drying technique. For the encapsulation of a high dose of poorly water-soluble drugs, large amounts of ethanol and consequently large quantities of dextrin are needed for the dissolution of drug and the encapsulation of ethanol, respectively. In order to increase the ethanol content with the decreased amount of dextrin, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was employed in the preparation of microcapsules without drug by a spray drying method. Phase diagrams were prepared to determine the region of microcapsule formation with a three-component system of ethanol, dextrin and water. The homogeneous phase indicated in the phase diagram was used to prepare the alcoholic microcapsules since this phase was not separated rapidly and not too viscous to be spray-dried. Interestingly, SLS at concentrations below 2% remarkably increased both the ethanol content and the encapsulation efficiency of ethanol. The maximum ethanol content and encapsulation efficiency were observed with 0.5-1% of SLS (35.4 and 67.6%, respectively). Furthermore, the increase by SLS was more pronounced at the low dextrin/water ratios than at the high dextrin/water ratios. In particular, the ethanol content and the encapsulation efficiency with the dextrin/ethanol/water ratio of 0.4/1/1, which had relatively small amounts of dextrin, were about ten times higher in the presence of SLS than those without SLS. In conclusion, this study shows that small amounts of SLS can increase the ethanol content and the encapsulation efficiency of ethanol, and allow the reduction in the amount of dextrin required to encapsulate ethanol in the preparation of microcapsules. These findings suggest that the use of SLS may permit the effective encapsulation of high dose of water-insoluble drug into microcapsules.

Association of oligohydramnios in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes with an inflammatory response in fetal, amniotic, and maternal compartments

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to examine whether oligohydramnios in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with evidence of fetal, amniotic, and maternal inflammatory responses.

STUDY DESIGN

Amniotic fluid index was measured before the performance of amniocentesis in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes. Fifty-nine patients who were delivered of preterm neonates (gestational age </=35 weeks) within 3 days of amniocentesis were included in this study. Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and for genital mycoplasmas. The intensity of the inflammatory response was evaluated by the following: presence of clinical and histologic chorioamnionitis; amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin 6, interleukin 1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha; amniotic fluid white blood cell count; and interleukin 6 concentrations in umbilical cord plasma at birth. Proinflammatory cytokines were measured with specific and sensitive immunoassays.

RESULTS

Thirty-two percent (19/59) of patients had an amniotic fluid index </=5 cm. Patients with an amniotic fluid index </=5 cm had significantly higher rates of positive amniotic fluid culture results and clinical and histologic chorioamnionitis; higher median amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin 6, interleukin 1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha; and higher median cord plasma concentrations of interleukin 6 than did those with an amniotic fluid index >5 cm (positive amniotic fluid culture result, 79% [15/19] vs 30% [12/40]; clinical chorioamnionitis, 37% [7/19] vs 5% [2/40]; histologic chorioamnionitis, 100% [17/17] vs 69% [24/35]; median amniotic fluid interleukin 6 concentration, 13.5 ng/mL; range, 0.2-142.2 ng/mL vs 3.0 ng/mL and 0.001-115.2 ng/mL; median amniotic fluid interleukin 1beta concentration, 348.0 pg/mL; range, 0.7->80, 000 pg/mL vs 36.6 pg/mL and 0-2075 pg/mL; median amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration, 132.0 pg/mL; range, 0-1600 pg/mL vs 11.2 pg/mL and 0-1305 pg/mL; median cord plasma interleukin 6 concentration, 49.7 pg/mL; range, 4.4-7400 pg/mL vs 9. 1 pg/mL and 0-5211 pg/mL; P <.05 for each). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups of patients in the mean umbilical artery pH at birth.

CONCLUSION

Oligohydramnios in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with an inflammatory response in the fetal, amniotic, and maternal compartments.

Effects of beta-adrenergic blocking therapy on left ventricular diastolic relaxation properties in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

The hemodynamic mechanism for the improvement in left ventricle (LV) end-diastolic pressure in cardiomyopathy patients treated with beta-adrenergic blocking agents is controversial. We hypothesized that the salutary effect of this kind of therapy on LV end-diastolic pressure would be indicative of an improvement in late, passive diastolic relaxation properties.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied 14 cardiomyopathy patients in normal sinus rhythm with no arteriographic evidence of coronary artery disease and an LV ejection fraction of </=40% by radionuclide angiography both before and after 6 months of metoprolol therapy with simultaneous micromanometry and biplane cineventriculography. Four comparable patients who were not treated with metoprolol were studied in a similar fashion and served as control subjects. In those receiving metoprolol, LV end-diastolic pressure decreased (P=0.001). The isovolumic relaxation index, tau(ln), shortened (P=0.03). In a similar fashion, the LV chamber stiffness constant, kappa, decreased (P=0.02), LV volume elastance improved (P=0.04), and the myocardial stiffness constant, kappa(e), decreased (P=0.02). A multiple regression analysis revealed that the decrease in LV end-diastolic pressure was indicative of significant improvements in tau(ln) and kappa(e) with the relationship: LV end-diastolic pressure=-4.73+0.27 tau(ln)+0.54 kappa(e) (r=0.81, P<0.0001). These LV diastolic relaxation properties did not change or worsened in the control cardiomyopathy patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the decrease in LV end-diastolic pressure in cardiomyopathy patients treated with metoprolol is an indicator of improvement in LV diastolic properties resulting from more complete myocardial relaxation.

Epidemiological study on Korean gallstone disease: a nationwide cooperative study

To clarify the epidemiological characteristics of gallstone disease in Korea and to evaluate the chronological changes in gallstone disease, the authors performed this first prospective nationwide cooperative study. The subjects were 1263 gallstone patients who were admitted at 19 hospitals in Korea from February to July 1997. Questionnaires were recorded on 1263 patients and gallstones were harvested from 1133 patients. The proportion of patients with gallbladder (GB), common bile duct (CBD), and intrahepatic duct (IHD) stones among total gallstone patients was 64.0%, 21.9%, and 14.1%, respectively. GB stones were categorized as cholesterol (58.1%), black pigment (25.2%), and brown pigment (12.1%) stones. CBD stones were classified as brown pigment (76.1%), cholesterol (18.4%), and black pigment (3.5%) stones. IHD stones were classified as brown pigment (61.4%) and mixed (35.6%) stones. Intrahepatic mixed stones had mean cholesterol and bilirubin contents of 63.4 +/- 20.8% and 23.1 +/- 9.9%, respectively. In contrast, IHD brown pigment stones had mean cholesterol and bilirubin contents of 35.1 +/- 20.5% and 39.6 +/- 17.4%, respectively. Our study showed that the type and composition of gallstones in Korea was somewhat different compared with those in the West. This study also demonstrated that there have been chronological changes in the type and composition of gallstones when compared with previous domestic data. Another nationwide cooperative study may be needed to elucidate and confirm the changing pattern of gallstone disease.

Endoscopic hemostasis in sphincterotomy-induced hemorrhage: its efficacy and safety

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Hemorrhage is induced in approximately 0.5-12% of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (ES) procedures. We prospectively investigated the risk factors for ES-induced hemorrhage and evaluated the safety as well as the effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 1304 patients who underwent ES between July 1996 and June 1998. Epinephrine spray was used initially for hemostatic treatment. If bleeding persisted, an epinephrine injection was given consecutively. In patients with exposed vessels, epinephrine injection followed by alcohol injection was given.

RESULTS

ES-induced hemorrhage occurred in 136 (10.4%) patients. The type of sphincterotome used (needle-knife sphincterotome, P=0.025) and the cutting speed (the so-called "zipper" cut, P = 0.049) were revealed as significant variables with regard to the occurrence of bleeding. Mild, moderate, and severe bleeding were noted in 108 (79.4%), 22 (16.2%), and six (4.4%) patients, respectively. Once bleeding occurred, patients with an associated ampullary lesion (impacted stone or cancer) or with coagulopathy were more likely to bleed profusely. Initial hemostasis was achieved in all patients. However, rebleeding occurred in eight patients who were initially classified as having moderate or severe bleeding. Finally, ES-induced hemorrhage was successfully controlled in all patients after 1-3 treatment sessions (mean 1.1 sessions). The difference in the incidence of complications between the groups treated or not treated by endoscopic hemostasis was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

ES-induced hemorrhage occurred in 10% of the patients studied. The use of needle-knife sphincterotomy and the cutting speed were independent risk factors for the occurrence of bleeding. Once bleeding occurred, its severity was affected by an associated ampullary lesion (impacted stone or cancer) or coagulopathy. Endoscopic hemostasis with epinephrine and/or alcohol was effective and safe in ES-induced hemorrhage.

Clinical and histopathological characteristics of basal cell carcinoma in Korean patients

Seventy-eight Korean patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) between 1984 and 1998 were retrospectively examined at Ewha Womans University Tongdaemun Hospital, Seoul, Korea. We analyzed the annual incidence, age and sex distribution, site of the lesions, clinical appearance, including the proportion of clinically pigmented tumors, modalities of treatment, incidence of recurrence and metastasis of the tumors, the histopathological patterns, and whether solar elastosis, microscopic pigmentation, or adamantinoid feature were associated. The male-to-female ratio was 0.902, and the average age of the patients at first examination was 58.2 years. Eighty percent of the tumors occurred on the head and neck, most commonly on the nose (26.9%), followed by the cheek, eyelid, and upper lip. Ulcerated nodules were the most common clinical presentation. Clinically, 55% of the tumors were pigmented. Six tumors recurred; none metastasized. Surgical excision was the most common modality of treatment. The most frequent histopathological pattern was the solid type (60.3%), followed by the superficial (11.5%) and fibrosing (9.0%) types. The occurrence of the superficial type was significantly associated with truncal lesions (p < 0.001). Solar elastosis was present in 62.1% of the tumors on the head and neck, compared with 8.3% in those of the trunk and limbs (p < 0.001), indicating the significance of sun exposure in the pathogenesis of BCC on exposed areas. Microscopic pigmentation was seen in 69.2% of the tumors. The focal adamantinoid feature was found in 14.1%, which is much higher than the previously reported incidence.

The role of endoscopic fenestration procedures for cerebral arachnoid cysts

Recently, endoscopic procedures have been recommended as the first surgical option for cerebral arachnoid cyst (AC). The author reports seven ACs treated endoscopically and discuss the role of endoscopic fenestration. The age of the patients ranged from two to 62 years. Three ACs were located in the posterior cranial fossa, two in the suprasellar area, one in the middle cranial fossa, and one in the convexity. All cases were examined by cine magnetic resonance (MR) flow study. The patient's symptoms included headache, vomiting, dizziness, problems in balance, visual disturbance, and seizure. The author performed a cysto-cisternostomy or cysto-ventriculostomy via a single burr hole. The follow-up periods ranged from six to 18 months. There was no mortality or morbidity except one case of intracisternal bleeding during endoscopic procedure. Symptoms were relieved in all seven patients. Follow-up imaging studies revealed a decrease in the size or disappearance of the cysts. The results support that the minimal fenestration procedure as possibly as preserving the internal environment is valuable for the management of ACs.

Effect of electrode polarity on the energy required for transthoracic atrial defibrillation

Two hundred patients with atrial fibrillation underwent transthoracic cardioversion using adhesive electrodes positioned at the apex and right infraclavicular area, and the apex electrode was randomly selected to serve as the cathode or anode. The mean defibrillation energy requirement with the cathodal configuration was significantly lower than with the anodal configuration.

A new strategy for the application of CA19-9 in the differentiation of pancreaticobiliary cancer: analysis using a receiver operating characteristic curve

OBJECTIVE

Clinicians might be misled in interpreting an elevated CA19-9 when differentiating pancreaticobiliary cancer from benign clinical conditions such as acute cholangitis or cholestasis, because in these conditions, the concentration of CA19-9 may also be elevated. The aims of our study were to calculate new individual cutoff values for CA19-9 according to clinical situations using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and to define a new strategy for interpreting CA19-9 in pancreaticobiliary cancer.

METHODS

One hundred sixty patients with pancreatic diseases (cancer 90, benign disease 70), 322 patients with biliary tract diseases (biliary cancer 152, benign disease 170), and 20,035 asymptomatic controls were enrolled in the present study. An ROC curve was described by plotting the sensitivity on the y-axis against 1-specificity on the x-axis for each of several cutoff values.

RESULTS

The area under the ROC curve was significantly greater for pancreatic cancer than for biliary cancer (p < 0.05). For patients with pancreatic cancer, CA19-9 proved to be useful. At a cutoff value of 37 U/ml, sensitivity and specificity were 76.7% and 87.1%, respectively. For patients with biliary cancer, CA19-9 was not helpful. However, when patients with biliary disease were divided into two groups according to the presence of cholangitis or cholestasis, CA19-9 proved to be more useful for the group without cholangitis or cholestasis than for the group with cholangitis or cholestasis (p < 0.05). In the former group, the sensitivity and specificity of CA19-9 were 77.6% and 83%, respectively, at the cutoff value of 37 U/ml. For the latter group, the sensitivity and specificity of CA19-9 were 74% and 41.5% respectively, whereas the specificity reached 87% at 300 U/ml. CA19-9 in diagnosing pancreatic cancer was useful regardless of accompanying acute pancreatitis or cholestasis. The serum concentration of CA19-9 in asymptomatic individuals was 9.42 +/- 9.95 U/ml. Only 1 of 157 patients with a concentration of CA19-9 above 37 U/ml was found to have gallbladder cancer. The positive and negative predictive values were 0.65% and 0.78%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of CA19-9 for the differentiation of pancreaticobiliary cancer should be applied individually, depending on the clinical situation.

Choledochal cyst associated the with anomalous union of pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD) has a more grave clinical course than choledochal cyst alone

OBJECTIVE

Since choledochal cyst is frequently associated with the anomalous union of pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD), AUPBD has been regarded to be the etiologic factor of choledochal cyst. However, the clinical significance of AUPBD an patients with choledochal cyst has not been clearly defined. Therefore, to clarify the significance of AUPBD in choledochal cyst patients, we compared the clinical features of patients with choledochal cyst according to the presence or absence of AUPBD.

METHODS

Among 52 cases which were diagnosed as choledochal cyst out of 5,037 ERCP referrals between August 1990 and December 1996, we selected 44 cases, in which the pancreaticobiliary junction was clearly visualized on cholangio-pancreaticography. These cases were divided into AUPBD-present group (n = 28) and AUPBD-absent group (n = 16). Clinical features were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, in AUPBD-present group, clinical data were also analyzed according to Kimura's classification of AUPBD.

RESULTS

In our study, AUPBD was associated with choledochal cyst in 28 (64%) cases. AUPBD was found only in type I and IV according to Todani's classification of choledochal cyst. There were no significant differences between the AUPBD-present group and the AUPBD-absent group in the incidence of gallstone disease, while the incidence of acute inflammation was 93% (26/28) in the AUPBD-absent group (p < 0.01). Carcinoma developed only in the AUOBD-present group (9/28, 32%) (p < 0.05). Pancreatic disorders (i.e. pancreatic stone, pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer) occurred in 12 of 28 cases in the AUPBD-present group (43%), while only in 1 of 16 cases in the AUPBD-absent group (6%) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

AUPBD associated with choledochal cyst may have implications not only as a possible etiologic factor but also as an important factor that may affect the clinical course, surgical planning and prognosis. In cases with choledochal cyst, we should make an effort to evaluate the presence of AUPBD.

Development of dried liposomes containing beta-galactosidase for the digestion of lactose in milk

The hydrolyzed-lactose milk for lactase-deficient subjects has a sweeter taste than whole milk, and some subjects dislike its taste. In order to cope with this shortcoming, we examined whether beta-galactosidase, which hydrolyzes lactose, added to the whole milk in the form of dried liposomes, would be able to digest lactose in milk following the lysis of liposomes in the presence of bile salts. Dried liposomes containing beta-galactosidase were prepared in the presence of trehalose by the dehydration-rehydration vesicle method to overcome the instability of the conventional liposome suspension. The stability of liposomal membranes was evaluated by measuring the activity of entrapped beta-galactosidase under various storage conditions. By treating liposomes with trehalose, which was found to prevent the fusion of liposomes and the leakage of entrapped drug, the entrapping efficiency increased up to fourfold. Over 95% of dried liposomes which had been stored at 17 degrees C for 60 days were reconstituted to liposomes upon rehydration process. From the stability study, dried liposomes were found to retain 87% of beta-galactosidase activity at 17 degrees C after 60 days and to be more stable than the multilamellar vesicle suspension prepared without trehalose. The lysis study showed that dried liposomes were hardly lyzed in the simulated gastric fluid with pepsin, but lyzed immediately more than 90% in 0.01 M deoxycholic acid. Lactose hydrolysis in the presence of deoxycholic acid after the addition of dried liposome-entrapped beta-galactosidase to whole milk was proportional to the quantity of entrapped beta-galactosidase and the amount of dried liposomes added. These results demonstrate that beta-galactosidase entrapped in liposome is stable and reconstituted mostly upon rehydration, and can digest lactose in milk after the efficient lysis of liposomes in the presence of bile salts. This study implies that beta-galactosidase entrapped in liposome may be applied to whole milk for lactase-deficient subjects.

Target temperatures of 48 degrees C versus 60 degrees C during slow pathway ablation: a randomized comparison

INTRODUCTION

The relationship between temperature at the electrode-tissue interface and the loss of AV and ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction is not established, and the optimal target temperature for the slow pathway approach to radiofrequency ablation of AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare target temperatures of 48 degrees C and 60 degrees C during the slow pathway approach to ablation of AVNRT.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study included 138 patients undergoing ablation for AVNRT. Patients undergoing slow pathway ablation using closed-loop temperature monitoring were randomly assigned to a target temperature of either 48 degrees C or 60 degrees C. The primary success rates were 76% in the patients assigned to 48 degrees C and 100% in the patients assigned to 60 degrees C (P < 0.01). The ablation procedure duration (33 +/- 31 min vs 26 +/- 28 min; P = 0.2), fluoroscopic time (25 +/- 15 min vs 24 +/- 16 min; P = 0.5), and mean number of applications (9.3 +/- 6.5 vs 7.8 +/- 8.1; P = 0.3) were similar in patients assigned to 48 degrees and 60 degrees C, respectively. The mean temperature (46.1 degrees +/- 24.8 degrees C vs 48.7 +/- 3.2 degrees C; P < 0.01), the temperature associated with junctional ectopy (48.1 degrees +/- 2.0 degrees C vs 53.5 degrees +/- 3.5 degrees C, P < 0.0001), and the frequency of VA block during junctional ectopy (24.6% vs 37.2%; P < 0.0001) were less in the patients assigned to 48 degrees C compared to 60 degrees C. The frequency of transient or permanent AV block was similar in each group (2.8% vs 3.6%; P = 0.2). In the 60 degrees C group, only 12% of applications achieved an electrode temperature of 60 degrees C. During follow-up of 9.9 +/- 4.2 months, there was one recurrence of AVNRT in the 48 degrees C group and none in the 60 degrees C group.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to 48 degrees C, a target temperature of 60 degrees C during radiofrequency slow pathway ablation is associated with a higher primary success rate and a higher incidence of VA block during junctional ectopy induced by the radiofrequency energy. AV block is not more common with the higher target temperature, but only if VA conduction is aggressively monitored during applications of radiofrequency energy.

An 86 kDa diapause protein 1-like protein is a component of early-staged encapsulation-relating proteins in coleopteran insect, Tenebrio molitor larvae

Recently, we reported two novel early-staged encapsulation-relating proteins (56 kDa and 48 kDa ERPs) isolated from the hemolymph of coleopteran insect, Tenebrio molitor larvae [Cho et al. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. (in press)]. Here, a cDNA clone for another early-staged encapsulation-relating protein (86 kDa) was isolated. We found that the 86 kDa protein shows high homology with insect diapause protein 1. The 86 kDa protein was localized in the fat body and hemolymph, but not hemocyte lysate. A significant level of 86 kDa protein was detected in pre-pupae stage, but it decreased rapidly at late larvae and pupae, and no protein was found in embryo, early larvae and adult stages. This diapause protein 1-like protein is likely to be a component of early-staged encapsulation-relating proteins in the insect cellular defense reaction.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis: CT-histopathologic correlation

PURPOSE

To correlate computed tomographic (CT) features of inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver with histopathologic results in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CT features of 13 cases of inflammatory hepatic pseudotumor in 10 patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis were reviewed. Diagnosis was made by means of surgical resection in all patients. CT scans were analyzed for the appearance of masses and ancillary findings in correlation with the histopathologic findings in each resected specimen.

RESULTS

The masses were 2.0-7.0 cm (mean, 3.5 cm). At nonenhanced CT, the masses appeared as ill-defined, hypoattenuating lesions. At contrast material-enhanced CT, the masses exhibited central hypoattenuating areas with an iso- or hyperattenuating thickened periphery in four cases and a multiseptate appearance with hyperattenuating internal septa and periphery in nine cases. CT-histopathologic correlation showed that the central hypoattenuating area indicated the presence of chronic inflammatory infiltrates with foamy histiocytes, plasmacytes, and lymphocytes, while iso- or hyperattenuating areas in the periphery and internal septa of the mass represented fibroblastic proliferation. All patients had CT features of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, such as hepatolithiasis, intrahepatic duct stricture and dilatation, common bile duct calculi, pneumobilia, or parenchymal atrophy.

CONCLUSION

Although CT features are not specific, inflammatory pseudotumor should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis and a hepatic mass detected at CT.

Intraspinal epidermoid cyst occurring 15 years after lipomyelomeningocele repair. Case report

The authors report the case of a spinal epidermoid cyst that developed in a patient who had undergone surgery for lipomyelomeningocele repair 15 years earlier. The patient presented with symptoms of retethering. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic intraspinal mass that extended from L-2 to L-5. The mass proved to be an epidermoid cyst. Spinal epidermoid cysts can cause retethering after a repair of lipomyelomeningocele, and the risk of this development can be present for decades.

Molecular genetic analysis of the DiGeorge syndrome among Korean patients with congenital heart disease

The DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is a developmental defect of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, which is associated with congenital heart defects, hypoparathyroidism, cell-mediated immunodeficiency, velo-pharyngeal insufficiency and craniofacial dysmorphism. The aetiological factor in a great majority of DGS cases is monosomy for the chromosomal region 22q11. To analyze DGS at the molecular level, a new molecular probe (DGCR680) encompassing the ADU balanced translocation breakpoint was prepared. When 13 Korean patients with DGS-type congenital heart disease were analyzed with this probe, 9 turned out to have a deletion at this locus, and all of them except one exhibited a typical facial dysmorphism associated DGS. Though only 9 independent patients were detected to have a deletion at the locus using the commercial probe N25 (D22S75), which maps at about 160 kb from the ADU breakpoint to the telomeric end, results from fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a deletion in all cases tested at this locus. Two patients who had a deletion at the locus D22S75 but not at DGCR680 did not exhibit any DGS-type facial abnormalities. This result implies that the 680 bp probe covering the ADU translocation breakpoint might be a candidate for a molecular marker that can distinguish a specific phenotype, such as facial features associated with the DiGeorge syndrome. This study also suggested that systematic approaches with several small DNA probes along the DGCR could help to dissect the complex phenotypes associated with the DiGeorge syndrome, such as cardiac defects, abnormal faces, thymic hypoplasia, cleft palate, and hypocalcemia, etc.

Usefulness of cholangioscopy in patients with focal stricture of the intrahepatic duct unrelated to intrahepatic stones

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic duct strictures are usually caused by intrahepatic duct stones and cholangitis. However, focal strictures of the intrahepatic duct unrelated to intrahepatic stones often pose diagnostic problems. This study was undertaken to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy in patients with focal intrahepatic duct stricture and no evidence of a stone.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with focal strictures of the intrahepatic duct without any evidence of a stone were included. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic examination including procurement of biopsy specimens was performed after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

RESULTS

A histopathologic diagnosis was obtained in all patients (9 adenocarcinomas, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, 2 hepatocellular carcinomas, 2 adenomas, and 3 benign strictures). Of the 9 patients with bile duct adenocarcinoma, 8 underwent surgery and a curative resection was possible in 7 patients (88%). Five patients (63%) had early-stage bile duct cancer in which cancer invasion was limited to the mucosa or fibromuscular layer and there was no evidence of lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy in patients with focal stricture of the intrahepatic duct unrelated to choledocholithiasis is useful for diagnosis including the detection of early bile duct cancer.

Mutational analysis of aspartate residues in the transmembrane regions and cytoplasmic loops of rat vesicular acetylcholine transporter

The vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) is responsible for the transport of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into synaptic vesicles using an electrochemical gradient to drive transport. Rat VAChT has a number of aspartate residues within its predicted transmembrane domains (TM) and cytoplasmic loops, which may play important structural or functional roles in acetylcholine transport. In order to identify functional charged residues, site-directed mutagenesis of rVAChT was undertaken. No effect on ACh transport was observed when any of the five aspartate residues in the cytoplasmic loop were converted to asparagine. Similarly, changing Asp-46 (D46N) in TM1 or Asp-255 (D255N) in TM6 had no effect on ACh transport or vesamicol binding. However, replacement of Asp-398 in TM10 with Asn completely eliminated both ACh transport and vesamicol binding. The conservative mutant D398E retained transport activity, but not vesamicol binding, suggesting this residue is critical for transport. Mutation of Asp-193 in TM4 did not affect ACh transport activity; however, vesamicol binding was dramatically reduced. With mutant D425N of TM11 transport activity for ACh was completely blocked, without an effect on vesamicol binding. Activity was not restored in the conservative mutant D425E, suggesting the side chain as well as the negative charge of Asp-425 is important for substrate binding. These mutants, as well as mutant D193N, clearly dissociated ACh binding and transport from vesamicol binding. These data suggest that Asp-398 in TM10 and Asp-425 in TM11 are important for ACh binding and transport, while Asp-193 and Asp-398 in TM4 and TM10, respectively, are involved in vesamicol binding.

Effects of ovarian source, patient age, and menstrual cycle phase on in vitro maturation of immature human oocytes

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficiency of in vitro maturation, expressed by nuclear maturation, of oocytes aspirated during gynecologic surgeries or collected from excised ovaries. To assess the effect of patient age and cycle phase at collection on the oocyte's ability to mature in vitro. To examine the time course of oocyte maturation in vitro.

DESIGN

Nuclear maturation based on patient criteria compared.

SETTING

University-based IVF program and research center.

PATIENT(S)

Consented patients undergoing gynecologic surgeries or patients undergoing oophorectomy.

INTERVENTION(S)

Oocytes were maintained in culture for 48 hours and evaluated for maturation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Nuclear maturation evaluated as germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) or progression to the metaphase II (MII) stage.

RESULT(S)

A significantly higher percentage of oocytes collected during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle underwent GVBD than did oocytes collected during the luteal phase (60% versus 48%, respectively). The percentage of oocytes reaching the MII stage, from these two groups, was not different. No statistically significant differences in maturation were observed in oocytes from different ovarian sources or from patients >40 or <40 years of age.

CONCLUSION(S)

These data suggest that oocytes collected during the follicular phase are more likely to undergo GVBD than oocytes collected during the luteal phase. In this study, ovarian source, age, or cycle phase did not influence the final meiotic maturation of oocytes to metaphase II.

Cerebral vasoreactivity by transcranial Doppler in carbon disulfide poisoning cases in Korea

The abnormalities of cerebral vasoreactivity were evaluated in CS2 poisoning cases. In 34 retired workers with CS2 poisoning (case group) and 20 healthy individuals (control group), blood flow velocities were measured in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) by transcranial Doppler. Compared with the control group, the case group showed lower mean values of blood flow velocities and pulsatile indices. The differences in CO2 reactivities of both groups were remarkable (1.10-2.19% decrease/mmHg CO2 for cases and 3.35-5.08 for controls). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to adjust the effect of age, sex, and exposure level (non-low-high exposure) to CO2 reactivity and pulsatile index. The exposure level was statistically significant in the regression model for CO2 reactivity of both MCA and for pulsatile index of the right MCA. Our study noted a decrease of CO2 reactivity and pulsatile index of cerebral vessels related with CS2 exposure. These findings suggested that CS2 exposure could lead to a decrease of cerebral vasoreactivities by the atherosclerotic change of cerebral vessels.

Activin A stimulates meiotic maturation of human oocytes and modulates granulosa cell steroidogenesis in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that activin A promotes in vitro human oocyte meiotic maturation while inhibiting steroid secretion by nonluteinized antral granulosa cells.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized controlled study.

SETTING

A university medical center.

PATIENT(S)

Nine women ranging in age from 31-44 years who were undergoing oophorectomy for nonovarian pathology.

INTERVENTION(S)

Analysis of meiotic maturation of oocytes and steroid secretion by granulosa cells cultured in the presence or absence of activin A.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and attainment of metaphase II (MII) in oocytes, and progesterone and E2 secretion by granulosa cells.

RESULT(S)

Activin A significantly enhanced GVBD (91% vs. 65%) for control and maturation to MII (56% vs. 35% for control) of immature oocytes. Activin A significantly suppressed basal, and inhibin A-and FSH-stimulated progesterone and E2 secretion by nonluteinized granulosa cells.

CONCLUSION(S)

Activin A is a promoter of oocyte maturation in vitro and a modulator of granulosa cell steroidogenesis in culture.