Up to now light and dark adaptation are considered as of minor importance when recording the pattern electroretionogram (P-ERG) which in man reflects cone vision. In order to test this supposition transient P-ERGs were recorded in six healthy subjects to a reversing checkerboard pattern produced by a pivoted mirror system after two minutes of pre-exposure to darkness (1), to the pattern reversal stimulus (2), and to uniform illumination of 3.3 log cd/m2 (3). Field size was 18 x 20 degrees, check size 69 min of arc, reversal frequency 3.5/s, contrast 0.95. When recording the P-ERG within the first 30 s after pre-exposure, the amplitude/luminance function of the p-q and the q-r component was shifted along the luminance axis without changing the maximum amplitude. For a criterion response of 1.5 microV there was a sensitivity difference of 1.3 log units between measurements after pre-exposure to darkness and after strong illumination. Furthermore, the P-ERG latencies of the q and the r component displayed significantly shorter values after pre-exposure to strong light than after darkness, whereas no change of p-latency was recorded. We conclude that pre-exposure to darkness and strong illumination has no effect on the P-ERG elicited at high luminance levels. However, pre-adaptation should be considered when recording the P-ERG at luminance levels near threshold.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MRI differential diagnosis of intrahepatic biloma from subacute hematoma.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differential diagnosis of intrahepatic biloma from intrahepatic subacute hematoma has been reported in two cases. The biloma was heterogenously intense on T1-weighted images and homogenously hyperintense on T2-weighted images. The hematoma was hyperintense on the both T1- and T2-weighted MR images. The clinical significance of this MRI difference is that intrahepatic biloma needs drainage, whereas intrahepatic hematoma can heal spontaneously.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intraretinal analysis of electroretinogram with K+ microelectrodes during acute intraocular pressure elevation.

We examined the effects of acute intraocular pressure elevation on the intraretinal electroretinogram in the cat dark-adapted eye. Perfusion pressure of the eye (mean arterial pressure minus intraocular pressure) was regulated within the range of 25-75 mm Hg by increasing the intraocular pressure, which was adjusted by changing the height of the reservoir of balanced salt solution perfused into the eye through a needle placed in the anterior chamber. The vitreal electroretinogram, transepithelial c-wave, slow PIII and light-evoked decrease in extracellular K+ concentration were recorded during intraocular pressure elevation in the dark-adapted retina. The c-wave increased in amplitude between 40 and 75 mm Hg of perfusion pressure and decreased below 40 mm Hg in some cases. These changes were unrelated to the standing potential. The transepithelial c-wave, slow PIII and light-evoked decrease in extracellular K+ concentration were larger in the range of perfusion pressure examined. These suggest that some factor induces electroretinographic changes that are not readily explained by hypoxia or pH changes alone.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Structure of thymidine kinase gene introduced into mouse Ltk- cells by a new injection method.

Pricking, a new injection method developed by Yamamoto et al. (1981), can be used to introduce DNA into cultured cells with high efficiency. Closed circular plasmid DNA containing the cloned HSV-TK gene (pTK-1) was introduced by this method and the structure of DNA in stable transformants was examined. In most clones, the introduced DNA was integrated into the mouse genome in a tandemly repeated form. The possibility of multiple integration via mouse middle repetitive sequences was also examined using the chimeric plasmid with TK genes and middle repetitive sequences (pMRTK-1). Digestion with restriction enzymes showed that the middle repetitive sequence used in this experiment had no effect on the efficiency of transformation, suggesting that this sequence is unable to mediate homologous recombination with mouse genomes.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recovery of cardiac function by long-term left ventricular support in patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy.

Effects of long-term left ventricular (LV) support on end-stage cardiomyopathy patients is unclear. We applied our LV assist system (LVAS) to six heart transplant candidates, aged 17 to 49, with dilated cardiomyopathy, including one dilated phase hypertrophied cardiomyopathy. LVAS was installed between the left atrium and the ascending aorta, and the pump was positioned parecorporeally. In all patients, their general condition improved, and their pump flows were kept at 4 to 5 L/min. Exercise was started after stabilization of their general condition under constant pump flow. Natural heart size and function were examined by echocardiography. In the beginning of assist, all patients showed impaired cardiac function and LV dilation. During LV assist, systolic function measured by ejection time improved in all patients. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd), showed a remarkable decrease in two patients, who were weaned from LVAS after 3 months of support. They are doing well more than 1 year and 3 years after removal; peak VO2 levels (ml/min/kg) were 30 at 1.2 years and 27 at 2.7 years after removal. In the other four patients, however, LVDd had no remarkable changes, and three could not be weaned from LVAS. The last was discontinued from LVAS after 5 months of support because of infection and died 2 months after removal. From this experience, long-term LVAS may provide the chance for recovery of the natural heart in patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy. The patients whose hearts showed remodeling were able to be weaned from LVAS, and their heart function maintained in good condition for several years.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Stroke as the first manifestation of calcific aortic stenosis.

Heart valve calcifications are rarely recognized as a potential source for cerebral embolism. Previous studies have identified mitral, but not aortic, valve calcifications to be risk factors for stroke. Based on these studies, heart surgery is unlikely to be indicated in patients who present with a stroke and an 'incidental' aortic valve calcification. We report a case of a 46-year-old man presenting with acute onset of left-sided weakness and numbness. A previous smoking history was the only cardiovascular risk factor found. Head CT scan revealed a right middle cerebral artery territory infarct and an adjacent high-density lesion. CT angiography demonstrated the presence of calcific embolic material in the middle cerebral artery. A search for embolic sources revealed a calcific aortic stenosis (CAS). Initially placed on coumadin, the patient developed silent myocardial infarction 2 months later, presumed to be also embolic in origin from the CAS. After aortic valve replacement, the patient has been symptom-free during a 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, CT angiography may be the method of choice for detecting calcific cerebral emboli, and demonstration of a causal relationship between CAS and an embolic stroke by CT angiography may be an important adjunct in surgical decision-making.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The c-K-ras gene and human cancer (review).

A significant number of human tumors from diverse histological origins contain c-K-ras oncogenes which have been activated by somatic point mutations resulting in single amino acids substitutions in the encoded p21 ras protein. In addition to these qualitative changes, other genetic alterations leading to increased expression of the c-K-ras gene, especially its mutated form, appear to be important in the activation of its oncogenic potential. These findings support the hypothesis that c-K-ras oncogenes are contributing in a dominant but dose dependent manner to the multistage process of human tumorigenesis. Activated c-K-ras oncogenes have been detected in human tumors at different stages of progression, including premalignant neoplasms. These studies provide evidence for the involvement of somatic mutational activation of this ras gene in the early stages of tumor development in some types of human cancer. We discuss here the structural and functional features of the human c-K-ras gene and the involvement of its activated form in human cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of sevoflurane and halothane on reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in the isolated rat heart.

The effects of sevoflurane and halothane on reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in the isolated rat heart were examined. Reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in all rat hearts, and the duration of VF was 151 +/- 11 (mean +/- SEM) seconds in the control group (no anesthetics administered). Sevoflurane changed neither incidence nor duration of VF at 1, 2, and 3 minimum alveolar concentrations (MAC) of anesthetic. Halothane altered neither the incidence nor duration of VF compared with the control group at 1 MAC; however, at 2 and 3 MAC, halothane significantly reduced the incidence and duration of VF (P < 0.05 at 1, 2, and 3 MAC halothane: respective incidences were 100%, 18%, and 55% and respective durations, 82 +/- 27 seconds, 20 +/- 6 seconds, and 13 +/- 9 seconds). In the isolated rat heart, we found that halothane has antiarrhythmic effects against reperfusion-induced arrhythmia at 2 and 3 MAC. Sevoflurane, however, did not have any antiarrhythmic effects against reperfusion-induced arrhythmia at 1, 2, or 3 MAC.

Animals↗