Management of Supratentorial Intracranial Abscess: A Review of 200 Cases

Two hundred cases of intracranial supratentorial abscess have been reviewed: 100 spanned the years 1951 to 1957, and 100 the years 1962 to 1967. The mortality rate of 40% was the same in both series, chiefly owing to continuing inaccurate localization of the abscess and inadequate use of antibiotics. The hazards of lumbar puncture are real, and this procedure is contra-indicated when convulsions, signs of a hemisphere disturbance, or papilloedema are present. Of the methods for localizing intracranial abscess the site of E.N.T. sepsis, ventriculography, and brain scanning were found to be the most valuable. Penicillin in high dosage continues to be the most important antibiotic. The results of assiduously repeated burrhole aspiration compare favourably with those of later excision.     

Myometrial activity related to gap junction area in periparturient and in ovariectomized oestrogen treated sheep

Propagation of electrical (EMG) activity in the myometrium may be facilitated by the presence of gap junctions (GJ), leading to improved synchronization of contractility. EMG and mechanical (IUP) activity in relation to GJ area were studied in 9 periparturient and in 2 ovariectomized (OVX) oestradiol-17 beta (E2) treated ewes, chronically instrumented with bipolar electrodes and intrauterine sponge-tip catheters. Myometrial biopsies were taken under epidural anaesthesia at various time intervals around delivery and after intra-arterial administration of 0.1 mg of E2. In pregnant ewes we found a significant increase in the rate of rise and area of IUP cycles during labour. Both were closely related to a significant increase in GJ area. In E2 treated OVX sheep we found a significant increase in GJ area, with a maximum at 24 hours after injection. The increase in GJ area was associated with a significant increase in the rate of rise of IUP cycles. The results of our study support the hypothesis that gap junctions facilitate the spread of EMG activity across the myometrium, which may improve synchronization of uterine contractility during labour.     

Effect of estradiol-17ß and prostaglandins on rat myometrial gap junctions

The effects of estradiol-17ß and indomethacin on myometrial gap junction development, plasma estradiol levels and uterine PGF_2α content were evaluated in immature and/or ovariectomized, mature rats. High doses of estradiol stimulated the development of gap junctions in the myometrium of animals from both groups. Concomitant injections of estradiol and indomethacin to ovariectomized rats potentiated the estradiol stimulation of gap junctions. Plama estradiol levels were lower in ovariectomized rats treated with both estradiol and indomethacin than in animals treated with estradiol alone. Indomethacin also enhanced the uptake and retention of ³H-estradiol into uterine tissues. Uterine PGF_2α content of ovarectomized rats was stimulated with the initial injection of estradiol but thereafter, the PGF_2α content declined with repeated injections to values lower than that observed in controls. Prostaglandin F_2α content in tissues from rats treated with estradiol plus indomethacin were also higher than that observed in rats treated with indomethacin alone, however, the values obtained in both groups were significantly lower compared to those from control animals. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that steroid hormones and prostaglandins regulate myometrial gap junction formation. Regulation of myometrial gap junctions by prostaglandins is discussed with respect to down regulation of the steroid-receptor mechanism and effects on cyclo-oxygenase or lipoxygenase products.     

Trends in biochemical literature

Any working biochemist intuitively knows that the literature is growing. However, quantifying this growth with any degree of precision is not an easy task. But after my interest in this problem was piqued by the late Robert Harte [1] attempted to produce what is, I hope, an accurate and useful view of the biochemical literature.     

N-(β-iodoethy)trifluoroacetamide: A new reagent for the aminoethylation of thiol groups in proteins

β-Iodoethyltrifluoroacetamide was prepared and evaluated for use in the aminoethylation of sulfhydryl groups in proteins. Lysozyme, ribonuclease A, chymotrypsinogen A, and soybean trypsin inhibitor were reduced using dithiothreitol in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride. The reduced proteins were then treated with the reagent. Conversion of cysteinyl to aminoethylcysteinyl residues averaged 97%; no destruction of nontarget residues was observed.