A Blastocystis species from the sea-snake, Lapemis hardwickii (Serpentes: Hydrophiidae).

Observations were made on Blastocystis isolated from the sea-snake, Lapemis hardwickii. Exponential growth of the organism was observed between 2 and 4 days of culture. Vacuolated, amoeboid and granular forms were observed in cultures, similar to B. hominis. The optimal growth temperature for the sea-snake Blastocystis was 24 degrees C compared with 37 degrees C for B. hominis. The karyotypic patterns of B. hominis and the sea-snake Blastocystis were studied in the clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) technique and found to be different. Based on the above differences, the sea-snake Blastocystis was designated as Blastocystis lapemi sp. nov.     

蝰蛇咬伤治疗期间肾功能指标动态变化分析

目的分析蝰蛇咬伤治疗期间患者肾功能指标的变化情况。方法对近10年来我院收住院治疗的219例蝰蛇咬伤患者的临床资料进行收集整理,将符合本文动态观察要求的28例患者的资料进行分析。结果 28例患者的3项肾功能指标在第2、3次检测时均为快速上升,在第3次检测时均值达到高峰,第4次检测时均开始下降,到第6、7次检测时均基本降至正常水平。结论蝰蛇咬伤患者治疗期间肾功能损害呈动态变化,且3项肾功能指标均值升高和降低均有较好的相关性。     

Intraoperative injection of botulinum toxin A into orbicularis oculi muscle for the treatment of crow's feet

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the degree of efficacy of eliminating crow's feet by means of direct injection of botulinum toxin A into orbicularis oculi muscles under direct surgical vision during either blepharoplasty or face lift operations. Eighteen patients were injected with Botox A-14 in each orbicularis oculi muscle. Dilution was obtained by adding 4 ml of preservative-free saline to 100 IU of Botox A. Doses ranged from 15 to 50 IU in each muscle, varying according to the severity of wrinkles and intensity of muscle contraction. In 10 patients (56 percent), the Botox was injected throughout the outer surface of both orbicularis oculi dissected during a face-lift operation. In eight other patients (44 percent), the toxin was injected into the inner surface of both orbicularis oculi exposed during classic blepharoplasty procedures. Most authors have demonstrated that the effect produced by transcutaneous Botox lasts between 4 and 6 months; the paralysis obtained by direct muscular injection was effective for 9 months in 14 patients (78 percent) and 10 months in the other 4 patients (22 percent). Results were documented by means of preinjection and postinjection photographs, videotapes, and electromyographs. Neither local nor general adverse effects were noted. The improvement obtained in crow's feet was satisfactory to the patient and to us. The use of Botox intraoperatively permitted at the same time not only the treatment of crow's feet by paralysis of orbicularis oculi muscles but also the correction of senile changes in the lids and face by means of either blepharoplasty or face-lift operations.     

Use of Drosophila mutants to investigate the effect of disuse on the maintenance of muscle

The effect of continued muscular inactivity and prolonged paralysis on the structure and function of muscles was investigated in Drosophila melanogaster. A number of flightless mutants was examined to see whether their flight muscles degenerated as a result of disuse. No sign of progressive deterioration was observed in any of these mutants. Further, by producing mosaic flies in which part of the body expressed the temperature-sensitive paralytic mutation shibire^ST139, reversible local paralysis was obtained, and maintained for prolonged periods. Flies in which parts of the leg or flight musculature had been paralysed for several days were examined; no effect of such inactivity on the structure and function of the muscles was observed in any of the flies. These results indicate that in Drosophila continued muscular inactivity does not result in extensive degeneration of the musculature.     

Chewing pattern and muscular activation in open bite patients

Different studies have indicated, in open bite patients, that masticatory muscles tend to generate a small maximum bite force and to show a reduced cross-sectional area with a lower EMG activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinematics parameters of the chewing cycles and the activation of masseters and anterior temporalis muscles of patients with anterior dental open bite malocclusion. There have been no previous reports evaluating both kinematic values and EMG activity of patients with anterior open bite during chewing. Fifty-two young patients (23 boys and 29 girls; mean age±SD 11.5±1.2 and 10.2±1.6years, respectively) with anterior open bite malocclusion and 21 subjects with normal occlusion were selected for the study. Kinematics parameters and surface electromyography (EMG) were simultaneously recorded during chewing a hard bolus with a kinesiograph K7-I Myotronics-Usa. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the open bite patients and the control group for a narrower chewing pattern, a shorter total and closing duration of the chewing pattern, a lower peak of both the anterior temporalis and the masseter of the bolus side. In this study, it has been observed that open bite patients, lacking the inputs from the anterior guidance, that are considered important information for establishing the motor scheme of the chewing pattern, show narrower chewing pattern, shorter lasting chewing cycles and lower muscular activation with respect to the control group.     

眼镜蛇咬伤患者早期肝肾功能、心肌酶的变化

目的观察眼镜蛇咬伤患者早期肝、肾功能及心肌酶的改变,以探讨其临床意义。方法对30例眼镜蛇咬伤患者入院时即抽取静脉血2.0 ml,分离血清,按常规方法行肝、肾功能及心肌酶的测定,并与健康体检者进行比较。结果与对照组比较,眼镜蛇咬伤患者早期肝功能及心肌酶指标显著升高(P0.05);肾功能检测结果差异无显著性(P0.05)。结论通过对眼镜蛇咬伤患者肝、肾功能及心肌酶的测定,了解患者肝脏、肾脏、心肌损害程度,对指导临床治疗具有一定意义。     

Reinnervation mechanism of skeletal muscles damaged by botulism toxin]

Reinnervation by botulinus toxin impaired motor nerve implantation was investigated in rat experiments with a purpose of elucidating conditions for regeneration of nerve fibers in the area of botulinic paralysis. Administration of the sublethal dose of toxin into the limb accelerated synaptogenesis of the nerve implanted. The latter exerts a normalizing effect on the muscular tissue and polarization level of its fibers.     

Altered control of submaximal bite force during bruxism in humans

The control of bite force during varying submaximal loads was examined in patients suffering from bruxism compared to healthy humans not showing these symptoms. The subjects raised a bar (preload) with their incisor teeth and held it between their upper and lower incisors using the minimal bite force required to keep the bar in a horizontal position. Further loading was added during the preload phase. A sham load was also used. Depending on the session, the teeth were loaded by the experimenter or the subject and in one session the subject did not see the load (no visual feedback). The bite force was measured continuously using a calibrated force transducer. In all the subjects, the bite force increased with increasing load. Following the addition of the load, the level of the tonic bite force was reached rapidly with no marked overshoot. The patients with bruxism used significantly higher bite forces to hold the submaximal loads compared to the control subjects. In the control subjects, the holding forces for each submaximal load were identical in the men and the women and were independent of subject maximal bite force. Sham loading evoked no marked responses in biting force. Whether the subject or the experimenter added the load or whether the subject had visual feedback or not were not significant factors in determining the level of bite force. The results indicated that the patients with bruxism used excessively large biting forces for each given submaximal load. This study showed no evidence that the inappropriate control of bite force by patients with bruxism was due to an abnormality in the higher cortical circuits that regulates the function of trigeminal motoneurons in the brainstem. This was shown by a lack of abnormality in coordination of voluntary hand movement with biting force, a lack of abnormal anticipation response to a sham load and a lack of any effect of visual feedback. The results were in line with the hypothesis that afferent input from oral (periodontal or masticatory muscle) tissues does not provide an appropriate control of motor command in bruxism.     

Pharmacological control of muscular activity in the sea urchin larva. I. Effects of nicotinic and muscarinic agents

1. The muscular system of the sea urchin pluteus is stimulated by nicotinic agents. Excessive stimulation is followed by paralysis of the most powerful muscular strands. The effects are counteracted by antinicotinic agents.2. Muscarinic agents keep the activity low, calm down initially unquiet larvae, and counteract the nicotinic effects.3. The effects are quickly elicited and in general are also quickly reversible in sea water, which indicates that most of the receptors involved occur at the larval surface.4. It is suggested that the nicotinic and muscarinic signals control certain ionic fluxes in opposite directions, and that the stimulatory effect on the most powerful muscular strands is amplified by a monoaminergic system.     

Alteration of endothelin-1 concentration in STZ-induced diabetic rat nephropathy. Effects of a PGI(2) derivative

BACKGROUND: Recently, an endothelin (ET-1) with a potent vasoconstrictive activity and stimulative activity of vascular muscular cell growth was discovered and blood ET-1 levels were higher in diabetic patients than in healthy subjects, suggesting that high ET-1 levels assist development and progression of diabetic microangiography. METHODS: We examined renal function, and serum and tissue ET-1 levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats treated with a prostaglandin (PG) I(2) derivative to investigate the effect of PGI(2) in diabetic vascular disturbance. RESULTS: Renal weight, urinary albumin, urinary N-acetyl-beta,D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and serum ET-1 levels increased in STZ-induced diabetic rats, and a tendency to increase in renal tissue ET-1 levels was observed. Furthermore, electron-microscopic findings in the kidneys showed mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial matrix expansion which might be caused by diabetic nephropathy. The PGI(2) derivative reduced urinary albumin and NAG levels in STZ-induced rats. It was considered, therefore, that the PGI(2) derivative is effective in diabetic nephropathy. As the PGI(2) derivative also reduced renal tissue ET-1 levels, improvement of diabetic nephropathy partially was considered to result from the reduction of renal tissue ET-1 levels. CONCLUSION: In STZ-induced rats, increased serum ET-1 levels and a tendency to increase in renal tissue ET-1 levels were associated with increases in urinary albumin and NAG levels, and these levels were decreased by a PGI(2) derivative. These findings suggested that increased ET-1 concentrations assist development and progression of diabetic nephropathy, especially diabetic microangiopathy, and the PGI(2) derivative may be effective for inhibition of diabetic microangiopathy mediated by reduction of ET-1 concentrations.     

Muscular response to the therapist and symptomatic improvement during biofeedback for tension headache.

The relationship between muscular response to the therapist's presence and symptomatic improvement was studied during biofeedback. Thirty-two patients suffering from tension headaches received muscular biofeedback training of six sessions plus a follow-up session two months later. Patients' electro-myographic frontal response was measured prior to treatment both with and without the therapist present. A relationship was found between symptomatic improvement at follow-up and muscular response to the therapist's presence before treatment: patients showing a decrease of at least 10% in muscular tension response to the presence of their future therapist improved more regarding headache intensity than the patients showing increase or smaller variation of their EMG. A significant correlation of .59 was found between the frontal EMG response to therapist presence during the evaluation session and headache improvement at follow-up. The results suggest that the decrease of muscular tension during the first contact with the therapist could be an indicator of good prognosis, possibly because of an immediate positive therapeutic relationship and/or favorable expectancies concerning future benefit of treatment.     

Effect of isoflavone from Flemingia vestita (Fabaceae) on the Ca2+ homeostasis in Raillietina echinobothrida, the cestode of domestic fowl

The alcoholic crude root-peel extract of Flemingia vestita and its major isoflavone, genistein, have been shown to have a vermifugal/vermicidal effect by causing a flaccid paralysis accompanied by alterations in the structural architecture of the tegumental interface and metabolic activity in Raillietina echinobothrida, the cestode of domestic fowl. In the present study, the crude root-peel extract and pure genistein were tested in vitro with respect to Ca2+ homeostasis and the occurrence of some metal ions was detected in the parasite. Live cestodes were incubated in pre-defined concentrations of the crude root-peel extract, genistein and praziquantel (as reference drug), till the paralysis time with simultaneous maintenance of respective controls. In the parasite tissue, a significant amount of Ca2+ (approximately 400 microg/g dry tissue wt) was found to be present besides magnesium, iron, zinc, lead and chromium, whilst manganese, cadmium and nickel were below the level of detection. The Ca2+ concentration was decreased significantly by 39%-49%, in the parasite tissue exposed to the test materials in comparison to the respective controls. There was also an increase in Ca2+ efflux by 91%-160% into the culture medium under similar treatments. The changes in Ca2+ homeostasis may be related to the rapid muscular contraction and consequent paralysis in the parasite due to the anthelmintic stress caused by the phytochemicals of F. vestita.     

Hypokalemic myopathy associated with primary aldosteronism and glycyrrhizine-induced pseudoaldosteronism

Enzymatic and histological features of muscular disorders associated with primary aldosteronism and glycyrrhizine-induced pseudoaldosteronism were studied. Among 10 patients with primary aldosteronism and 3 patients with pseudoaldosteronism, 5 patients were admitted to our hospital because of muscular weakness. The serum potassium (K) level was 1.86 +/- 0.21 mEq/l in a myopathy group on admission, a value significantly less than that of the 2.74 +/- 0.10 mEq/l in a non-myopathy group (p less than 0.01). Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), glutamate-oxyloacetate transaminase (GOT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased in the myopathy group compared to the non-myopathy group; serum CPK was 1412.6 +/- 902.6 vs. 22.8 +/- 5.0 mU/ml, serum GOT was 186.4 +/- 75.3 vs. 24.2 +/- 5.4 mU/ml (p less than 0.05), and serum LDH was 1133.4 +/- 377.3 vs. 387.6 +/- 42.5 mU/ml (p less than 0.05) in the groups with and without myopathy. Analysis of CPK isozymes revealed that the MM type exceeded 95%. The elevated serum CPK, GOT and LDH rapidly decreased to the normal range and muscular strength completely improved within 6 to 13 days after hospitalization, when the serum K level remained below than normal. Light microscopic finding of damaged muscle showed the diffuse necrosis and vacuolization of muscle fibers. Electron microscopic study clearly demonstrated complete dissolution of myofilaments with disappearance of sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-tubules in the necrotic muscle fibers. These results indicate that muscular lesions may occur in primary aldosteronism and pseudoaldosteronism when the serum K level is decreased to below 2.0 mEq/l. This myopathy is not periodic paralysis but hypokalemic myopathy. The mechanism by which K deficiency causes muscular damage remains unknown.     

A therapeutic alternative for tension headache in children: Treatment and 1-year follow-up results

Ten young subjects, ranging in age from 12 to 15 years, suffering from tension headache were treated by electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BFB) twice a week for 12 sessions. The Pain Total Index (PTI) was recorded every month from the beginning to the end of the treatment. At the end of the treatment the PTI decreased significantly in all our patients and, at the same time, the muscular tension values also decreased. This result supports the hypothesis of a correlation between clinical symptom and muscular tension level. We saw our patients for follow-up sessions, and the clinical improvement was confirmed to 1 year from the completion of the treatment; however, the muscular tension values were increased with respect to the last-session values.     

A therapeutic alternative for tension headache in children: treatment and 1-year follow-up results

Ten young subjects, ranging in age from 12 to 15 years, suffering from tension headache were treated by electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BFB) twice a week for 12 sessions. The Pain Total Index (PTI) was recorded every month from the beginning to the end of the treatment. At the end of the treatment the PTI decreased significantly in all our patients and, at the same time, the muscular tension values also decreased. This result supports the hypothesis of a correlation between clinical symptom and muscular tension level. We saw our patients for follow-up sessions, and the clinical improvement was confirmed to 1 year from the completion of the treatment; however, the muscular tension values were increased with respect to the last-session values.     

Rigid-body analysis of a lizard skull: modelling the skull of Uromastyx hardwickii

Lizard skulls vary greatly in their detailed morphology. Theoretical models and practical studies have posited a definite relationship between skull morphology and bite performance, but this can be difficult to demonstrate in vivo. Computer modelling provides an alternative approach, as long as hard and soft tissue components can be integrated and the model can be validated. An anatomically accurate three-dimensional computer model of an Uromastyx hardwickii skull was developed for rigid-body dynamic analysis. The Uromastyx jaw was first opened under motion control, and then muscle forces were applied to produce biting simulations where bite forces and joint forces were calculated. Bite forces comparable to those reported in the literature were predicted, and detailed muscular force information was produced along with additional information on the stabilizing role of temporal ligaments in late jaw closing.     

Anatomo-pathological study of fatal cases of Malpolon monspessulana (Herman, 1809) (Reptilia, Colubridae) bitten in the head by Cerastes cerastes (L., 1758) (Reptilia, Viperidae)

Two Malpolon monspessulana (Herman, 1809) were bitten in the head by Cerastes cerastes (L., 1758). The first specimen is fastly dead ten minutes after the bite. This short time does not permit us to point out the lesions by current technics, but only by autopsy two sting marks of C. cerastes poison fangs bites. The second specimen is dead eight hours after the bite, an anatomopathological study shows oedematous and haemorrhagico lesions of the conjunctive and striated muscular tissues. The visceral wound chiefly consists in a myocardic erythrodiapedesis congestion, oedematous areas and alveolar bleedings, a biliar overcharge with vascular degeneration of hepatic parenchyme and also degenerative and athrocytar lesions of epithelial cells of contorted ducts of kidney.     

Muscular response to the therapist and symptomatic improvement during biofeedback for tension headache

The relationship between muscular response to the therapist's presence and symptomatic improvement was studied during biofeedback. Thirty-two patients suffering from tension headaches received muscular biofeedback training of six sessions plus a follow-up session two months later. Patients' electro-myographic frontal response was measured prior to treatment both with and without the therapist present. A relationship was found between symptomatic improvement at follow-up and muscular response to the therapist's presence before treatment: patients showing a decrease of at least 10% in muscular tension response to the presence of their future therapist improved more regarding headache intensity than the patients showing increase or smaller variation of their EMG. A significant correlation of .59 was found between the frontal EMG response to therapist presence during the evaluation session and headache improvement at follow-up. The results suggest that the decrease of muscular tension during the first contact with the therapist could be an indicator of good prognosis, possibly because of an immediate positive therapeutic relationship and/or favorable expectancies concerning future benefit of treatment.The authors thank Mrs. G. Parisé for her assistance during the experimentation, Ms. M. Newman for her editorial corrections, and Ms. A. Khan for her secretarial work.     

Use of Diazoxide in Hypertension with Renal Failure

Treatment with intravenous and oral diazoxide was given to a group of 39 patients suffering from severe drug-resistant hypertension associated with renal impairment. Rapid initial and good long-term control of hypertension was achieved in all cases without the production of clinically significant postural hypotension. The side effects of diazoxide, including its diabetogenic effect, were easily controlled. There was a highly significant improvement in renal function in most patients on long-term oral diazoxide therapy.Diazoxide may have an important place in both the short- and long-term therapy of resistant hypertension, particularly in association with renal damage.     

Inhibitory effect of essential oils of Allium sativum and Piper longum on spontaneous muscular activity of liver fluke, Fasciola gigantica

Effects of essential oil of Allium sativum (garlic) and Piper longum (Indian long pepper) were evaluated on muscular activity of whole Fasciola gigantica and its strip preparation. The whole flukes and longitudinal strip preparations of the flukes were isometrically mounted to record the spontaneous muscular activity (SMA) and to evaluate effects of cumulative doses (0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/ml) of the plant essential oils. Whole flukes and the strip preparations exhibited continuous SMA without any significant difference in its baseline tension, frequency and amplitude for 2 h. Essential oil of A. sativum produced significant reduction in the frequency and the amplitude of the SMA of whole fluke at 1 and 3 mg/ml concentrations. It caused complete paralysis of the fluke after 15 min of administration of 3 mg/ml concentration. Similar to whole fluke, essential oil of A. sativum (3 mg/ml) also produced flaccid paralysis in the strip preparations of the flukes. Essential oil of P. longum firstly induced marked excitatory effect and then there was flaccid paralysis of the whole fluke following 15 min exposure at 3 mg/ml concentration. Complete flaccid paralysis of the strip preparation was also ensued after 15 min of administration of 3 mg/ml concentration of P. longum. In both the essential oils, the whole fluke and strip preparations did not recover from paralysis following 2-3 washes. In conclusion, the observations demonstrated irreversible paralytic effect of essential oils of A. sativum and P. longum on F. giganticain vitro which might possibly help to developing herbal-based anthelmintic.