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Byline: T. Bartsch (1), J. Herzog (1), R. Baron (1), G. Deuschl (1) Author Affiliation: (1) Dept. of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany, DE (2) Dept. of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Niemannsweg 147, 24105 Kiel, Germany. g.deuschl@neurologie.uni-kiel.de, DE Article note: Received: 7 June 2002, Received in revised form: 17 October 2002, Accepted: 22 October 2002 Present address: T. Bartsch, Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK Correspondence to G. Deuschl

In the domain of facility and factory layout planning, the difficult problem of finding a maximum weight planar subgraph of an edge-weighted complete graph has many important practical applications. We introduce new neighbourhood structures to generate an initial solution and yield feasible modifications of a current layout. We compare our constructive algorithm to a couple of approaches from the literature in order to receive an initial feasible solution. Moreover, a new implementation of Leung's greedy heuristic outperforms all other layout approximation algorithms in quality. Computational results demonstrate the performance characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hippocampus has a pivotal role in learning and in the formation and consolidation of memory and is critically involved in the regulation of emotion, fear, anxiety, and stress. Studies of the hippocampus have been central to the study of memory in humans and in recent years, the regional specialization and organization of hippocampal functions have been elucidated in experimental models and in human neurological and psychiatric diseases. The hippocampus has long been considered a classic model for the study of neuroplasticity as many examples of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation and -depression have been identified and demonstrated in hippocampal circuits. Neuroplasticity is the ability to adapt and reorganize the structure or function to internal or external stimuli and occurs at the cellular, population, network or behavioral level and is reflected in the cytological and network architecture as well as in intrinsic properties of hippocampal neurons and circuits. The high degree of hippocampal neuroplasticity might, however, be also negatively reflected in the pronounced vulnerability of the hippocampus to deleterious conditions such as ischemia, epilepsy, chronic stress, neurodegeneration and aging targeting hippocampal structure and function and leading to cognitive deficits. Considering this framework of plasticity and vulnerability, we here review basic principles of hippocampal anatomy and neuroplasticity on various levels as well as recent findings regarding the functional organization of the hippocampus in light of the regional vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease, ischemia, epilepsy, neuroinflammation and aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing) is a rare syndrome characterized by the sudden onset of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain that is accompanied by conjunctival injection and lacrimation or further autonomic signs. Similar to patients with chronic cluster headache, Leone and Lyons showed a beneficial effect of deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic region in two patients with a chronic SUNCT. Case: Here, we present the case of a man with a chronic SUNCT responding to deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area. Conclusion: This case supports the idea of a central origin of SUNCT and shows that deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamic region can be effective in the treatment of the chronic form of this rare disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Triptans, acting as serotonin, 5-HT1B/1D/1F, receptor agonists, provide an effective and established treatment option in migraine and cluster headache. Clinical observations suggest a relatively specific effect of these compounds on primary headache disorders, but not in other pain syndromes. The mechanism of this specificity, however, is not well understood. Hence, we systematically studied primary sensory ganglia in rat to determine if the peripheral distribution of 5HT1B/1D/1F receptors showed any anatomical difference that would account for the specificity of clinical effect. Rat primary afferent and sensory ganglia neurons—trigeminal ganglia (Vg), and dorsal root ganglia (DRG): C2, C5, T5, L5—were examined using paraffin-embedded, slide-bound tissue sections reacted with specific primary antibodies for rat 5-HT1B, 1D and 1F receptors in a peroxidase-based immunohistochemical method. Immunoreactivity specific for all three serotonergic receptor subtypes was demonstrated in the five peripheral nervous system regions examined and quantitated. There was a good agreement for 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors to that previously demonstrated in Vg and DRG L5, while this was the first characterisation for 5-HT1F receptor in any of the five regions, as well as for 5-HT1B and 5HT1D receptors in DRG C2, C5 and T5. In summary, all three 5-HT receptors are equally represented in Vg and the DRGs examined. We conclude that the triptans are theoretically able to bind to receptors at each level of the peripheral neuraxis without any apparent anatomical preference for the head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells (BM-CPCs) are mobilized into adult peripheral blood (PB) during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and may contribute to the regeneration of infarcted myocardium. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether mobilization of BM-CPCs into PB depends on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), age of patients, infarct associated inflammatory markers, and left ventricular function after AMI. Materials and methods Peripheral blood concentrations of CD34/45+ and CD133/45+ BM-CPCs were measured by flow cytometry in 44 patients after AMI and in 16 subjects with atypical chest pain acting as controls. Results Mobilization of CD34/45+ and CD133/45+ BM-CPCs on day 1 after AMI showed significant negative correlation with age, the number of CVRFs, infarct size, creatine phosphokinase peak in bivariate as well as in multivariate analyses. We additionally found a positive correlation of CD34/45+ and CD133/45+ BM-CPCs mobilization on day 1 after AMI with global ejection fraction (EF) in bivariate analysis but could not confirm this in multivariate analysis. Elevated of C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte levels on day 1 after AMI were significantly associated with decreased concentrations of CD34/45+ BM-CPCs. The concentrations of CD34/45+ and CD133/45+ BM-CPCs significantly increased in AMI patients, with the peak on day 7 as compared to the control group. Conclusions The mobilization of CD34/45+ and CD133/45+ BM-CPCs into the PB depends on many factors, i.e. the number of CVRFs, age, infarct size and inflammatory markers of patients. Most importantly, the severity of the circulatory dysfunction and the amount of necrotic myocardial tissue are the main determinants. Moreover, this spontaneous mobilization of BM-CPCs may serve as a very important surrogate for infarct size as well as for global EF and it may determine the regenerative potency after AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]