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The early and definitive diagnosis of malignant bile duct stenoses is essential for a timely and adequate therapy. However, tissue sampling with transpapillary brush cytology (BC) or forceps biopsy (FB) remains challenging. With this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of different tissue sampling modalities (BC, FB without/after previous balloon dilatation). Standardized database research identified all patients, who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with BC and/or FB for indeterminate bile duct stenosis between January 2010 and April 2018 and with a definitive diagnosis. 218 patients were enrolled (149 cases with malignant and 69 with benign disease). FB had a significant higher sensitivity than BC (43% vs. 16%, p

This study aimed at investigating the effects of 2, 4 and 8 weeks of endurance training on the contractile properties of slow (S), fast fatigue resistant (FR) and fast fatigable (FF) motor units (MUs) in rat medial gastrocnemius (MG) in relation to the changes in muscle mitochondrial biogenesis. The properties of functionally isolated MUs were examined in vivo. Mitochondrial biogenesis was judged based on the changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA), the content of the electron transport chain (ETC) proteins and PGC-1α in the MG. Moreover, the markers of mitochondria remodeling mitofusins (Mfn1, Mfn2) and dynamin-like protein (Opa1) were studied using qPCR. A proportion of FR MUs increased from 37.9% to 50.8% and a proportion of FF units decreased from 44.7% to 26.6% after 8 weeks of training. The increased fatigue resistance, shortened twitch duration, and increased ability to potentiate force were found as early as after 2 weeks of endurance training, predominantly in FR MUs. Moreover, just after 2 weeks of the training an enhancement of the mitochondrial network remodeling was present as judged by an increase in expression of Mfn1, Opa1 and an increase in PGC-1α in the slow part of MG. Interestingly, no signs of intensification of mitochondrial biogenesis assessed by ETC proteins content and mtDNA in slow and fast parts of gastrocnemius were found at this stage of the training. Nevertheless, after 8 weeks of training an increase in the ETC protein content was observed, but mainly in the slow part of gastrocnemius. Concluding, the functional changes in MUs' contractile properties leading to the enhancement of muscle performance accompanied by an activation of signalling that controls the muscle mitochondrial network reorganisation and mitochondrial biogenesis belong to an early muscle adaptive responses that precede an increase in mitochondrial ETC protein content.

Absolute polymorphonuclear (PMN) counts in ascites define spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), a severe form of bacterial infection in liver cirrhosis. Bacterascites, another form of ascites infection, can progress to SBP or may resolve spontaneously but is not reflected by absolute PMN counts. We investigated whether the relative ascites PMN count (the absolute PMN count divided by the absolute leukocyte count) provides additional information to detect bacterascites or predict SBP.Hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis requiring paracentesis were stratified with respect to a diagnosis of bacterascites and SBP with a prospective follow-up for 1 year. Diagnostic power of relative PMN counts in ascites was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics curves.At inclusion, we observed 28/269 (10%) and 43/269 (16%) episodes of BA and SBP, respectively. Unlike absolute PMN counts, relative PMN counts in ascites were significantly elevated in bacterascites (p = 0.001). During follow-up, 16 and 30 further episodes of BA and SBP were detected, respectively. Relative PMN counts increased significantly once patients developed BA (p = 0.001). At a threshold of 0.20 for the relative PMN count, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for bacterascites which required antibiotic treatment were 83, 75, 26 and 98%, respectively (p 0.001). Furthermore, a relative PMN count in ascites ≥0.13 and MELD score17 was independent factors associated with occurrence of SBP during follow-up.The relative PMN count is a cheap immunological marker linked to bacterascites and future SBP, which may help to stratify patients according to their risk of infection.

Background A relevant proportion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients is co-infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV co-infection in HIV-positive patients is associated with faster progression of liver disease in comparison to HCV mono-infection. Natural killer (NK) cells critically modulate the natural course of HCV infection. Both HIV and HCV mono-infection are associated with alterations of the NK cell pool. However, little data is available concerning phenotype and function of NK cells in HIV/HCV co-infection. Methods A total of 34 HIV/HCV co-infected, 35 HIV and 39 HCV mono-infected patients and 43 healthy control persons were enrolled into this study. All HIV-positive patients were under effective antiretroviral therapy. NK cell phenotype, IFN-γ production and degranulation were studied by flow cytometry. Results NK cell frequency in HIV/HCV co-infection was significantly lower than in healthy individuals but did not differ from HIV and HCV mono-infection. HIV/HCV co-infection was associated with significantly decreased expression of the maturation/differentiation markers CD27/62L/127 on NK cells but increased expression of CD57 compared to healthy controls. Of note, expression also differed significantly from HCV mono-infection but was similar to HIV mono-infection, suggesting a pronounced impact of HIV on these alterations. Similar findings were made with regard to the NK cell receptors NKG2A/C and NKp30. More importantly, NK cells in co-infection displayed a highly impaired functional activity with significantly lower IFN-γ production and degranulation than in healthy donors as well as HIV and HCV mono-infection, suggesting a synergistic effect of both viruses. Conclusions Our data indicate that HIV/HCV co-infection is associated with significant alterations of the NK cell pool, which might be involved in the rapid progression of liver disease in co-infected patients and which mainly reflect alterations observed in HIV mono-infection.

Background Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) can be life-threatening in patients with liver cirrhosis. In contrast to community-acquired SBP, no standard treatment has been established for healthcare-related and nosocomial SBP. Patients and methods We prospectively collected healthcare-related and nosocomial SBP cases from March 2012 till February 2016 at the Department of Internal Medicine I of the University of Bonn and analysed the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among the isolated bacteria. SBP was diagnosed according to international guidelines. Ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and meropenem were used as reference substance for resistance to quinolones, third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems, respectively. Results Ninety-two SBP episodes in 86 patients were identified: 63 episodes (69%) were nosocomial. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, enterococci and streptococci were most frequently isolated. Frequency of these microorganisms were comparable for healthcare-related and nosocomial SBP (14 vs. 11%, 14 vs. 8%, 14 vs. 5% and 10 vs. 6%, respectively). In general, antibiotic resistance was higher in isolates from nosocomial than from healthcare-related SBP (50% vs. 18% for quinolones, 30 vs. 11% for piperacillin-tazobactam; p>0.05), but comparable concerning third-generation cephalosporins (30 vs. 33%). All microorganisms were sensitive to carbapenems apart from nosocomial infections with Enterococcus faecium (n=3) and Candida albicans (n=1) due to intrinsic resistance or lack of microbiological efficacy, respectively. No multidrug-resistant microorganisms were detected. Resistance to initial antibiotic treatment affected 30-day survival negatively (18% vs. 68%; p=0.002). Conclusion Resistance to initial antibiotic treatment was associated with increased mortality. With resistance to cephalosporins being frequent, piperacillin-tazobactam or carbapenems might be preferred as treatment of SBP. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Background Immuno-genetic studies suggest a functional link between NK cells and λ-IFNs. We recently showed that NK cells are negative for the IFN-λ receptor IFN-λR1 and do not respond to IFN-λ, suggesting a rather indirect association between IL-28B genotype and NK cell activity. Methods A total of 75 HCV(+) patients and 67 healthy controls were enrolled into this study. IL-28B (rs12979860) and IFNL-4 (rs368234815) genotypes were determined by rtPCR. Total PBMC, monocytes, and NK cells were stimulated with IL-29, the TLR-7/8 agonist R848, or a combination of both. NK cell IFN-γ response was analysed by FACS. IL-12 and IL-18 secretion of monocytes was studied by ELISA. In blocking experiments anti-IL-12/anti-IL-18 were used. Results Following stimulation of total PBMCs with R848 we found NK cell IFN- γ responses to vary with the IL-28B genotype, with carriers of a T/T genotype displaying the lowest frequency of IFN-γ(+)NK cells. When isolated NK cells were studied no such associations were observed, indicating an indirect association between IL-28B genotype and NK cell activity. Accordingly, we found R848-stimulated monocytes of patients with a T/T genotype to be significantly less effective in triggering NK cell IFN- γ production than monocytes from carriers of a non-T/T genotype. In line with these findings we observed monocytes from T/T patients to secrete significantly lower concentrations of IL-12 than monocytes from non-T/T individuals. Conclusions Our data indicate that monocytes from carriers of an IL-28B T/T genotype display a reduced ability to stimulate NK cell activity and, thus, provide a link between IL-28B genotype and NK functions.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV(+) patients is associated with faster liver disease progression compared with HCV mono-infection. HIV-associated immune defects are considered to play an important role in this context. Here, we analyzed the effects of HIV infection on natural killer (NK)-cell-mediated anti-HCV activity.NK cell phenotype and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production, NK cell-mediated inhibition of HCV replication and CD4 T-cell/NK cell interactions were studied in treatment naive HIV (n = 22), and HIV patients under combined antiretroviral therapy (n = 29), compared with healthy controls (n = 20).NK cell-mediated inhibition of HCV replication was analyzed using the HuH7A2HCVreplicon model. IFN-γ production of NK cells as well as interleukin-2 secretion of CD4 T lymphocytes were studied by flow cytometry.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV(+) patients displayed a significantly impaired anti-HCV activity, irrespective of combined antiretroviral therapy. This could in part be explained by HIV-associated decline in NK cell numbers. In addition, NK cell IFN-γ production was significantly impaired in HIV infection. Accordingly, we found low frequency of IFN-γ(+) NK cells in HIV(+) patients to be associated with ineffective inhibition of HCV replication. Finally, we show that CD4 T-cell-mediated stimulation of NK cell IFN-γ production was dysregulated in HIV infection with an impaired interleukin-2 response of NK cells.HIV infection has a strong suppressive effect on anti-HCV activity of NK cells. This may contribute to low spontaneous clearance rate and accelerated progression of HCV-associated liver disease observed in HIV(+) patients.

Background Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is frequently a fatal infection in patients with liver cirrhosis. We investigated if nuclear dot protein 52 kDa ( NDP52 ), a negative regulator of toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling and autophagy adaptor protein, might be involved. Methods Two cohorts comprising 152 (derivation cohort) and 198 patients (validation cohort) with decompensated liver cirrhosis and 168 healthy controls were genotyped for the rs2303015 polymorphism in the NDP52 gene and prospectively followed-up for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Results Overall, 57 (38%) patients in the derivation cohort and 77 (39%) in the validation cohort had spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Cirrhosis was due to alcohol abuse in 57% of the derivation and 66% of the validation cohort. In patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis had an increased frequency of the NDP52 rs2303015 minor variant in the derivation ( p = 0.04) and in the validation cohort ( p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis confirmed this minor variant (odds ratio 4.7, p = 0.002) and the TLR2 −16934 TT variant (odds ratio 2.5, p = 0.008) as risk factors for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In addition, presence of the NDP52 minor variant affected survival negatively. Conclusion Presence of the NDP52 rs2303015 minor variant increases the risk for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Background & Aims Natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to exert anti-viral as well as anti-fibrotic functions in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Previous studies, however, analyzed NK cell functions exclusively under atmospheric oxygen conditions despite the fact that the liver microenvironment is hypoxic. Here, we analyzed the effects of low oxygen tension on anti-viral and anti-fibrotic NK cell activity. Methods Peripheral (n=34) and intrahepatic (n=15) NK cells from HCV(+) patients as well as circulating NK cells from healthy donors (n=20) were studied with respect to anti-viral and anti-fibrotic activity via co-culture experiments with HuH7 replicon cells and hepatic stellate cells, respectively. Results Anti-viral activity of resting NK cells from healthy controls was not affected by hypoxia. However, hypoxia significantly reduced the response of healthy NK cells to cytokine stimulation. In contrast to healthy controls, we observed resting and cytokine activated peripheral NK cells from HCV patients to display a significantly decreased anti-viral activity when cultured at 5% or 1% oxygen, suggesting HCV NK cells to be very sensitive to hypoxia. These findings could be confirmed when intrahepatic NK cells were tested. Finally, we show that anti-fibrotic NK cell activity was not affected by low oxygen tension. Conclusions Our results show that anti-viral function of NK cells from HCV(+) patients is critically affected by a hypoxic microenvironment and, therefore, indicate that in order to obtain an accurate understanding of intrahepatic NK cell anti-HCV activity, the laboratory modelling should take into account the liver specific levels of oxygen.

It was determined whether ethanol palatability in rats could be changed by manipulating the reinforcement experienced during limited access consumption. During the first 3 days of the experiment, initial taste reactivity (TR) testing to distilled water (1 day) and 10% alcohol (2 days) was performed. Following the establishment of baseline TR, separate groups of animals received bilateral microinjections (0.5 microl/side) into the nucleus accumbens of either the nonspecific dopamine agonist d-amphetamine sulfate (20 microg, n = 10), the D(2) antagonist raclopride (1.0 microg, n = 8), or physiological saline (n = 5). The injections occurred at the same time each day for 5 consecutive days. Five minutes after the microinjection, the fluid-deprived rats were given 30-min access to 10% ethanol. Over the 3 days following drug administration, TR to distilled water and 10% alcohol was repeated. After this, the rats were once again given 30 min of access to 10% ethanol for 5 consecutive days, but without drug microinjection prior to alcohol access. A final TR exposure (the same as the others) was performed over the final 3 days of the study. Both raclopride and d-amphetamine administration produced reductions in ethanol consumption (in comparison to saline treatment). However, treatment with d-amphetamine and raclopride during ethanol consumption did not cause significant, conditioned changes in palatability as measured by the taste reactivity procedure. These results suggest that dopamine plays a role in the motivation to consume ethanol but this neurotransmitter is not involved in evaluating its incentive value.

Cocaine decreases social interactions in both humans and animals, but it is not known whether the drugged animal withdraws from an undrugged conspecific, the undrugged conspecific avoids the drugged animal, or a combination of these two factors occurs. In the first experiment, the source of cocaine-induced social withdrawal was determined using a tether paradigm, in which the movement of one of the rats was restricted to one half of the observation chamber, such that the freely moving rat had the option of escaping social interactions. There were decreases in social interactions in the condition in which both rats were freely moving, and in the condition in which the undrugged rat was tethered, but not when the drugged rat was tethered and could not escape social contact. A second experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of the potent serotonin receptor antagonist, amperozide, in attenuating cocaine-induced social withdrawal using the condition in which the drugged rat was freely moving. Either amperozide (1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/kg) or saline vehicle was injected into rats 1 h before receiving a 30.0 mg/kg cocaine dose. Cocaine decreased social interactions. Amperozide restored social interactions to near control levels and elevated social interactions in the animals treated with saline vehicle.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is an increasing health problem in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) individuals. However, a considerable proportion of HIV+ patients manage to overcome acute hepatitis C (AHC) spontaneously. In the present study, we analyzed the role of natural killer (NK) cells in modulating the course of AHC in HIV+ patients. Twenty-seven HIV+ patients with AHC (self-limited course: n = 10; chronic course: n = 17), 12 HIV+ patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), 8 HIV monoinfected individuals, and 12 healthy controls were studied. NK cells were phenotypically analyzed by flow cytometry. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion, degranulation (CD107a), and anti-HCV (= inhibition of HCV replication) activity of NK subpopulations were analyzed using the HuH7A2HCVreplicon cell system. NK cell frequency did not differ significantly between HIV+ patients with chronic and self-limited course of AHC. However, we found NK cells from patients with self-limiting infection to be significantly more effective in inhibiting HCV replication in vitro than NK cells from patients developing CHC. Of note, antiviral NK cell activity showed no significant correlation with NK cell degranulation, but was positively correlated with IFN-γ secretion, and blocking experiments confirmed an important role for IFN-γ in NK cell-mediated inhibition of HCV replication. Accordingly, NK cells from patients that spontaneously cleared the virus displayed a stronger IFN-γ secretion than those developing chronic infection. Finally, we observed high expression of NKG2D and NKp46, respectively, to be associated with self-limiting course of aHCV. Accordingly, we found that blocking of these NK cell receptors significantly impaired antiviral NK cell activity. Conclusion: Our data suggest a strong IFN-γ-mediated antiviral NK cell response to be associated with a self-limited course of AHC in HIV+ patients. (Hepatology 2014;59:814–827)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of adverse effects during surfactant delivery, using a standardized protocol for administration and management of complications. The protocol was developed, implemented and used for 6 months. Vital signs and ventilatory parameters were prospectively recorded during the procedure. Infants were classified into three groups, based on the occurrence and severity of complications: no, minor or major. A total of 39 infants received surfactant and 19 presented some complication: 11 minor and 8 major. Six of the major complications were episodes of severe airway obstruction (SAO) and five occurred in extreme low birth weight (ELBW) infants that had more severe lung disease before surfactant delivery. Two cases of persistent pulmonary hypertension occurred in infants with birth weight>1000 g. This study identified a high rate of SAO and provides data to support changes in the protocol, which should include faster and more robust increases in positive inspiratory pressures in ELBW infants presenting with SAO.

Summary Background Although sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been used with increasing frequency, the data on the efficacy of SLIT in pediatric asthma are limited. Aim The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of high-dose SLIT given pre-seasonally and co-seasonally in an ultra-rush scheme in children with bronchial asthma allergic to grass pollen. Methods Fifty children with asthma, aged 6–17, sensitive to grass pollen, participated in the 2-year prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, to investigate the efficacy and safety of SLIT (Staloral 300 IR, Stallergenes SA, 25 μg major allergens) as a standardized extract of five grass pollen with ultra-rush induction. Results SLIT significantly improved asthma symptom scores (41% vs. placebo group), reduced nasal symptoms (25% vs. placebo group) and the use of rescue medications (10% vs. placebo group), improved forced expiratory volume in 1 s, but had no effect on ocular symptoms, nasal hyper-reactivity, peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume between 25% and 75% of vital capacity. Serum levels of immunoglobulin E and IgG4 did not change after SLIT. After the second season of SLIT, an improvement in bronchial hyperresponsiveness was observed; however, compared with placebo, this effect was not significant. Among all subjects in SLIT group, predominantly local reactions have been recorded in 59% of subjects in the first year of treatment and in 35% in the second. Conclusions Our study indicated that high-dose ultra-rush, co-seasonal SLIT given for 2 years, was safe and reduced a multiple symptom–medication score.

Neurinoma is the most common tumor of the neurogenic origin. Primary location in the neck with the vagal nerve as a source is very rare clinical situation (less than 100 cases published in the literature). The authors would like to present a case of 35 old men with vagal neurinoma. Main symptoms included painless neck tumor found on palpation. Differential diagnosis included the pedicled cyst and metastatic neck mass. The ultrasound picture was unclear. The intraoperative findings suggested the tumor arising from the vagal nerve. In first day after the surgery hoarseness appeared with paresis of the right vocal cord in the examination. The final histological evaluation revealed neurinoma.

Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, has been shown to reduce the palatability of 10% alcohol solutions in rats, as measured by taste reactivity. In the present study, the effect of acute naltrexone treatment on taste reactivity to a variety of taste solutions and concentrations was tested to determine whether naltrexone has generalized effects on taste responsiveness. Thirty minutes before a taste reactivity test, rats were injected with either naltrexone (3 mg/kg; n = 15) or saline (n = 15). On separate days, rats were tested with distilled water and three concentrations each of sucrose (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 M), sodium chloride (0.06, 0.10, and 0.30 M), quinine hydrochloride (0.0005, 0.001, and 0.005 M), and alcohol [10%, 20%, and 40% (vol./vol.)]. In Experiment 1, naltrexone consistently reduced the palatability of alcohol and sodium chloride solutions (across concentrations), as reflected by a decrease in ingestive responding and an increase in aversive responding. Naltrexone increased aversive responding for sucrose but did not affect ingestive responding for these solutions. Finally, there was no significant effect of naltrexone on responding to quinine hydrochloride. A second experiment with naive rats and five concentrations of sucrose (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 M) replicated the initial data: Across concentrations, naltrexone produced a significant increase in aversive responding but did not alter ingestive responding. In Experiment 3, naive rats were tested with five concentrations of quinine hydrochloride (0.00001, 0.00005, 0.0001, 0.0005, and 0.005 M). Results indicated that naltrexone significantly altered taste reactivity to the bitter solutions (less ingestive responding and more aversive responding), particularly at the lower concentrations. The results indicate that naltrexone treatment has significant effects on taste reactivity to some aqueous solutions (alcohol, sodium chloride), regardless of solution concentration. The effects of naltrexone on sucrose and quinine reactivity are more difficult to describe because the drug effects seemed to be dependent on the specific measure examined (ingestive vs. aversive responses) and the concentration of the solution. These results support the suggestion that naltrexone has a fairly generalized effect on taste reactivity to taste solutions; specifically, naltrexone seems to make solutions more aversive, as revealed by a decrease in ingestive responding and an increase in aversive responding.

Primary malignant melanoma of the larynx is very rare. The case of larynx malignant melanoma in 71-years old men is presented. Hoarseness was the main complaint that encouraged the patient to visit a doctor. The patient was heavy smoker, he had been smoking 40 cigarettes for the last 50 years. He used to drink about 200 ml of pure alcohol per day. In the direct laryngoscopy gluish had cyanotic tumor, extending to the true vocal cord, ventricle, ventricle fold and subglottic space was seen. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes, laterally to the main vessels were found both in palpation and in US examination. Total laryngectomy and neck dissection was performed. The histological examination of surgical specimen revealed; Malignant melanoma. Metastases in the lymph nodes. Neoplastic infiltration of the nodal capsule. The patient was admitted to the complementary radiotherapy. At the moment the follow up in outpatient. The article contains the review of literature concerning the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in cases of laryngeal malignant melanoma.

Usually neglected is the role of neutrophils in causing of immunological disturbances in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, it has been indicated over the recent years that these cells possess a sufficient potential to affect both immune response and inflammation. This potential may result in MS through the process of priming of these cells by proinflammatory cytokines like TNF. We studied TNF and its soluble receptors sp55 and sp75 serum levels and binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-stained TNF by neutrophils. We studied three different groups of MS patients: 10 patients in relapse of the disease, 13 in its remission, and 11 in its chronic progressive form (CP-MS). The control was provided by 14 neurological patients (OND) with non-inflammatory diseases. The performed studies showed higher TNF sp55 and sp75 soluble TNF receptors serum levels in the patients with relapse, comparing with other MS patients and OND. TNF binding by neutrophils of MS patients during relapse was also higher, than other MS patients and OND. These result suggest the preactivation of neutrophils in the relapse of MS.

This paper evaluates the hemodynamics of 30 young men, aged 17-19 years, with borderline hypertension (BHT) and 29 normotensive (NT) patients within the same age range. The study has been carried out using the impedance cardiography method at rest and under passive orthostatic test, cold test, and hyperventilation test. In the BHT patients, the following features have been observed: increased values of the cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), mean blood pressure (MBP), and left ventricle work index (LVWI), as well as the accompanying normal values of the total peripheral resistance index (TPRI). The reactions of the cardiovascular systems during the functional tests are similar in both tested groups; however, they are most clearly distinct in the BHT patients, where the differences are statistically significant. This may support the argument that the activity of the adrenergic system in this group in intensified.

The taste reactivity test was used to determine the response of outbred mice to orally infused taste solutions. For the initial measures, mice (n = 10) were tested with 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% (v/v) alcohol and four taste solutions: sucrose, sodium chloride, hydrochloric acid, and quinine hydrochloride (a single concentration of each). A second group of naive mice (n = 16) was tested with 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% alcohol. The final set of measures with naive mice (n = 26) was taken with a range of sucrose concentrations: 0.01 M, 0.05 M, 0.1 M, 0.5 M, and 1.0 M. In general, mice made similar reactivity responses to all solutions tested. A predominant component of the mouse response to all infused fluids was forelimb flailing; gaping was also a common response to all solutions. Despite the large number of aversive-type responses, mice rejected very little fluid via passive drip or fluid expulsion. The single, significant difference in responding to the four taste stimuli was that mice made fewer aversive responses to sucrose. Differential responding to the 5 to 40% alcohol concentrations and sucrose concentrations was observed. Mice increased ingestive responding as the concentration of alcohol and sucrose increased. Aversive responding decreased reliably only with increases in the sucrose concentration. Data provide the first reported taste reactivity responses of mice to orally infused taste solutions. These results can be compared with the extant data available in rats and can also be used as a basis for exploring taste factors in genetically defined mouse populations.

The aim the study was showed some spirometric and aerodynamic parameters of the respiratory system and of vicarious voice at laryngectomized patients, which were performed in plethysmographic cabin and by using of pneumotachometer. Clinical material stated 20 laryngectomized men, aged 45-77 years, who were divided into two groups (by Pruszewicz): A-well or very well speaking and B-bad speaking. The obtained results showed that laryngectomized well or very well speaking made bigger work of the respiratory system during vicarious voice than bad speaking ones. The well and very well speaking patients used twice (in case of consonants) and three times (in case of vowels) the volume of oesophageal-throat's air greater than bad speaking patients. Aerodynamic examinations in plethysmographic cabin allows for monitoring of vicarious voice at laryngectomized after operation and qualification some of ones for voice prosthetization in the aim of voice amplification.

Classic neuroleptics produce a syndrome of vacuous jaw movements in rats, but atypical neuroleptics such as clozapine do not. This syndrome has been offered as a rapid and inexpensive means of assaying novel antipsychotic compounds for the production of early onset extrapyramidal side effects. Cyproheptadine is a serotonergic antagonist that has been suggested for the treatment of schizophrenia. The present study compared the effects of repeated administration of cyproheptadine with those of the classic antipsychotic haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic clozapine in terms of their production of vacuous jaw movements. Rats were administered either tartaric acid vehicle or one of three doses of each drug daily for a month. Once a week the rats were observed for a 5-minute period by two trained observers who recorded their vacuous jaw movements. Cyproheptadine produced elevations in vacuous jaw movements similar to those produced by haloperidol, but clozapine did not. These results indicate that cyproheptadine may be similar to classic antipsychotics in the production of extrapyramidal symptoms in humans, and they underscore the usefulness of vacuous jaw movement model of early onset extrapyramidal side effects.

78 children were subjected to an analysis of the genetic and environmental conditions which might predispose them to allergy. Some of the parameters of cellular and humoral immunity were estimated. Among the examined children there was a predominance of boys. 46,9% of all the children had a family history of allergy. Most of the children were bottle fed from birth. Some children had abnormalities of the cell-mediated and humoral immunity.

In a group of 20 males aged 19-20 years ultraviolet radiation reflectance of different wavelength (250-400 nm) from skin surface was measured. It was found that the reflectance increased monotonically with the decrease of wavelength. The reflectance values were compared with the coefficient of relative spectral biological effectiveness and significance of both values for evaluation of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation was discussed.

16 patients suffering from angiofibroma were treated in the Otolaryngological Clinic, Academy of Medicine in Poznań, in the years 1977--1993. The patients were aged from 10--36, the mean age 15. All patients were treated surgically, and the method choice was Denker's surgery. 3 patients were reoperated because of local relapse. On the bases of the described cases good results of full recovery of patients with angiofibroma treated surgically are presented.

We analysed the results of clinical and morphological examinations in 256 children with mesangial glomerulonephritis. In the majority of children the onset of the disease was associated with the nephrotic syndrome, less frequently with erythrocyturia, proteinuria plus erythrocyturia or proteinuria. The course of the disease was markedly worse in those with proteinuria. The patients in this group were most frequently submitted for repeated biopsy. Renal specimens were studied in light, electron and immunofluorescence microscopy. Certain relationships between the initial symptoms and composition of deposits were found. There was, however no relation between the presence or absence of the deposits or their composition and the course of the disease. In 30 children the results of first biopsy (mainly electron microscopy examinations) suggested a possibility of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG). In 11 out of these children biopsy was repeated confirming the results of the first one. Repeated biopsy was performed in a total of 22 children. Progression of changes (signs of FSG) was found in 19 children, in 2 children changes in repeated biopsy did not differ from those in first biopsy, and in one child regression was observed.

The case of 60 years old man with oncocytoma in parotid gland is reported. According to the available literature there is less than 200 cases reported.

We estimated survival time of 56 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia retrospectively classified according to the model by Kantarjian. Moreover we analysed if there was a correlation between the first-year total dose of busulphan and the size of the spleen during the first year of treatment on the one hand and the patients' survival on the other and if the above factors could enhance the prognostic value of the model by Kantarjian. Although we found such a correlation our preliminary results suggest that the first-year total dose of busulphan and the spleen size do not enhance the prognostic value of the model by Kantarjian.

Cardioversion is one of the most effective treatment in cardiac arrhythmias. However, this technique is painful it requires proper anaesthesia assuring stable circulatory and respiratory functions. The authors compared two anaesthetics: etomidate and propanidid. No significant difference in their effects on both circulation and respiration has been noted. Some differences between both drugs in the produced adverse reactions were however noted. Etomidate caused pain at the site of injection, propanidid allergic reactions in the form of skin rash.

Numerical modeling was used for the theoretical analysis of the propagation of optical radiation in the tissues of the human head, generated by a single source placed on the surface of the scalp. Of special interest and importance is the propagation of radiation within the layer of cerebrospinal fluid contained in the subarachnoid space (SAS), which is the only low absorption/high transmittance medium whose width can vary rapidly. Qualitative and quantitative assess- ment of changes in propagation of radiation within the SAS could become a source of information on changes in the geometry of this anatomical compartment playing a crucial role in cranio-spinal physi- ology and pathology. Essential for the idea of the possible noninvasive assessment of changes in width of the SAS by an optical method is the dependence of intensity of radiation reaching a photodetector located at a certain distance from the source on changes in the width of this fluid layer, which acts like a biological optical waveguide. Monte Carlo modeling and numerical analysis confirmed the feasibility of assessing changes in the width of the subarachnoid space optically. Presented here are details of the Monte Carlo simulation of light propagation in the tissues of human head and the results of such simulation as a function of the width of the subarachnoid space, cal- culated for different distances between the source and detector and for a few selected values of bone thickness. Results of numerical mod- eling were then compared with those of experiments on a mechanical-optical model. © 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engi- neers. (S1083-3668(00)01103-5)