Tumors arising within the parotid encompass a heterogeneous mix of benign and malignant neoplasms and other tissue growths. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the ...location of intraparotid masses and the risk of malignancy. A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients diagnosed with parotid tumors following open tumor excision. The primary predictor variable was the location of the epicenter of the tumor in three-dimensional space, as determined from preoperative imaging. Other variables were patient demographics and clinical parameters. The primary outcome variable was the final histopathologic diagnosis of a benign or malignant process. A χ2 analysis was performed to test for any significant associations between demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors in relation to the outcome, and backwards stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to control for variables. Both increasing age (P = 0.002) and the presence of local pain (P = 0.020) were associated with malignancy. Tumors located anterior to the posterior border of the retromandibular vein had 2.18 times higher odds of malignancy (95% confidence interval 1.13–4.21; P = 0.020). Multivariate regression analysis suggested that patient age, the presence of pain, and tumor location anterosuperiorly and superoinferiorly could all assist in determining the odds of malignancy.
ABSTRACT—The role of baroreflexes in long-term control of arterial pressure is unresolved. To determine whether chronic activation of the baroreflex produces sustained hypotension, we developed a ...method for prolonged activation of the carotid baroreflex in conscious dogs. This was achieved by chronically implanting electrodes around both carotid sinuses and using an externally adjustable pulse generator to electrically activate the carotid baroreflex. Control values for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were 93±3 mm Hg and 64±4 bpm, respectively. After control measurements, the carotid baroreflex was activated bilaterally for 7 days at a level that produced a prompt and substantial reduction in MAP, and for day 1 MAP was reduced to 75±4 mm Hg. Moreover, this hypotensive response was sustained throughout the entire 7 days of baroreflex activation (day 7, MAP=72±5 mm Hg). During prolonged baroreflex activation, heart rate decreased in parallel with MAP, although the changes were not as pronounced (day 7, heart rate=51±3 bpm). Prolonged baroreflex activation was also associated with ≈35% reduction in plasma norepinephrine concentration (control=87±15 pg/mL). After baroreflex activation, hemodynamic measures and plasma levels of norepinephrine returned to control levels. Interestingly, despite the pronounced fall in MAP, plasma renin activity did not increase during prolonged baroreflex activation. These data indicate that prolonged baroreflex activation can lead to substantial reductions in MAP by suppressing the sympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, sustained sympathoinhibitory effects on renin secretion may play an important role in mediating the long-term hypotensive response.
Departments of Physiology and Biophysics and Surgery
(Cardiothoracic), University of Mississippi Medical Center,
Jackson, Mississippi 39216
Recent studies indicate that renal
sympathetic nerve ...activity is chronically suppressed during ANG II
hypertension. To determine whether cardiopulmonary reflexes and/or
arterial baroreflexes mediate this chronic renal sympathoinhibition,
experiments were conducted in conscious dogs subjected to unilateral
renal denervation and surgical division of the urinary bladder into
hemibladders to allow separate 24-h urine collection from denervated
(Den) and innervated (Inn) kidneys. Dogs were studied 1 )
intact, 2 ) after thoracic vagal stripping to eliminate
afferents from cardiopulmonary and aortic receptors cardiopulmonary
denervation (CPD), and 3 ) after subsequent denervation of
the carotid sinuses to achieve CPD plus complete sinoaortic denervation
(CPD + SAD). After control measurements, ANG II was infused for 5 days
at a rate of 5 ng · kg 1 · min 1 . In the
intact state, 24-h control values for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and
the ratio for urinary sodium excretion from Den and Inn kidneys
(Den/Inn) were 98 ± 4 mmHg and 1.04 ± 0.04, respectively. ANG II caused sodium retention and a sustained increase in MAP of
30-35 mmHg. Throughout ANG II infusion, there was a greater rate
of sodium excretion from Inn vs. Den kidneys ( day 5 Den/Inn sodium = 0.51 ± 0.05), indicating chronic suppression of
renal sympathetic nerve activity. CPD and CPD + SAD had little or
no influence on baseline values for either MAP or the Den/Inn sodium, nor did they alter the severity of ANG II hypertension. However, CPD
totally abolished the fall in the Den/Inn sodium in response to ANG II.
Furthermore, after CPD + SAD, there was a lower, rather than a
higher, rate of sodium excretion from Inn vs. Den kidneys during ANG II
infusion ( day 5 Den/Inn sodium = 2.02 ± 0.14).
These data suggest that cardiac and/or arterial baroreflexes
chronically inhibit renal sympathetic nerve activity during ANG II
hypertension and that in the absence of these reflexes, ANG II has
sustained renal sympathoexcitatory effects.
renal nerves; arterial baroreflexes; cardiac reflexes; sympathetic
nervous system; kidneys; sodium excretion
Carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX is over-expressed in glioblastoma; however, its functions in this context are unknown. Metabolically, glioblastomas are highly glycolytic, leading to a significant lactic ...acid load. Paradoxically, the intracellular pH is alkaline. We hypothesized that CAIX contributes to the extrusion of hydrogen ions into the extracellular space, thereby moderating intra- and extracellular pH and creating an environment conductive to enhanced invasion. We investigated the role of CAIX as a prognostic marker in patients with glioblastoma and its biological function in vitro. CAIX expression was analyzed in 59 patients with glioblastoma by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels were correlated to overall survival. In vitro, U251 and Ln 18 glioblastoma cells were incubated under hypoxia to induce CAIX expression, and RNA interference (RNAi) was used to examine the function of CAIX on cell attachment, invasion, intracellular energy transfer, and susceptibility to adjuvant treatment. High CAIX expression was identified as an independent factor for poor survival in patients with glioblastoma. In vitro, cell attachment and invasion were strongly reduced after knockdown of CAIX. Finally, the effects of radiation and chemotherapy were strongly augmented after CAIX interference and were accompanied by a higher rate of apoptotic cell death. CAIX is an independent prognostic factor for poor outcome in patients with glioblastoma. Cell attachment, invasion, and survival during adjuvant treatment are significantly influenced by high CAIX expression. These results indicate that inhibition of CAIX is a potential metabolic target for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma.
The Okorusu carbonatite complex and the mine's tailings dump constitute a potential resource of rare earth elements meaning lanthanides and yttrium (REY). Small (≤100 µm), hydrothermal REE ...fluorcarbonates (bastnäsite, parisite, röntgenite and synchysite) are the principal light REE carriers while the heavy REE and Y are primarily hosted in magmatic apatite, magmatic-hydrothermal carbonates (calcite, dolomite, ankerite) and hydrothermal fluorite. Bastnäsite and röntgenite occur as individual, liberated crystals in the tailings albeit syntaxial intergrowths of acicular parisite-synchysite-röntgenite are more common. There is a clear trend of decreasing REY contents in the magmatic carbonates over the early hydrothermal carbonates to the late hydrothermal carbonates. The lower total REY abundance in the hydrothermal carbonates is interpreted to be mainly a consequence of their limited redistribution during hydrothermal activity following the breakdown of the primary magmatic minerals and precipitation of REE fluorcarbonates. During this process hydrothermal fluids changed the isotopic composition of the Okorusu carbonatites by shifting δ13C-δ18O pairs of magmatic carbonatite (δ13C: -6.5 per mille to -5.4 per mille; δ18O: +6.4 per mille to +11.2 per mille) to higher values of hydrothermally modified carbonatite (δ13C: -4.2 per mille to -2.2 per mille; δ18O: +12.0 per mille to +17.5 per mille). The preferential presence of REY in the magmatic carbonates and to a minor degree in the hydrothermal carbonates in the Okorusu carbonatite and tailings is an important exploration tool for primary magmatic REY mineralisations. The recovery of REE fluorcarbonates can be considered in the development of the flowsheet for the planned recycling of the tailings material as a potential REY by-product.
Although glioblastomas show the same histologic phenotype, biological hallmarks such as growth and differentiation properties vary considerably between individual cases. To investigate whether ...different subtypes of glioblastomas might originate from different cells of origin, we cultured tumor cells from 22 glioblastomas under medium conditions favoring the growth of neural and cancer stem cells (CSC). Secondary glioblastoma (n = 7)-derived cells did not show any growth in the medium used, suggesting the absence of neural stem cell-like tumor cells. In contrast, 11/15 primary glioblastomas contained a significant CD133(+) subpopulation that displayed neurosphere-like, nonadherent growth and asymmetrical cell divisions yielding cells expressing markers characteristic for all three neural lineages. Four of 15 cell lines derived from primary glioblastomas grew adherently in vitro and were driven by CD133(-) tumor cells that fulfilled stem cell criteria. Both subtypes were similarly tumorigenic in nude mice in vivo. Clinically, CD133(-) glioblastomas were characterized by a lower proliferation index, whereas glial fibrillary acidic protein staining was similar. GeneArray analysis revealed 117 genes to be differentially expressed by these two subtypes. Together, our data provide first evidence that CD133(+) CSC maintain only a subset of primary glioblastomas. The remainder stems from previously unknown CD133(-) tumor cells with apparent stem cell-like properties but distinct molecular profiles and growth characteristics in vitro and in vivo.
•The Farrowing system had an effect on health parameters and the suckling behaviour of sows and piglets.•Sows in farrowing crates showed more locomotion problems and skin lesions of the ...udder.•Piglets in farrowing pens had less skin lesions of the face and of the carpus.•The suckling duration was longer in farrowing pens.•Sows with litters with a high level of facial lesions terminated suckling more frequently.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of free-farrowing pens and farrowing crates on the health parameters and the suckling behaviour of sows and their piglets, which were housed in farrowing crates (FC; n = 127) and in free-farrowing pens (FP; n = 121). All sows were evaluated regarding their body condition, locomotion, skin lesions of the udder and developmental stages of shoulder ulcers one week ante partum and four weeks post-partum. The piglets were scored concerning skin lesions of the face and of the carpus in week one of lactation and in week four of lactation. The FC sows had a higher incidence of locomotion problems and skin lesions of the udder four weeks post-partum (p < 0.05). In addition, piglets of the FC sows showed more skin lesions of the face and had more skin lesions of the carpus in week one of lactation and in week four of lactation, respectively (p < 0.05). For all piglets of both housing systems skin lesions of the face decreased during lactation, whereas skin lesions of the carpus increased (p < 0.05). With regard to the suckling behaviour, video observations of twenty-four sows (FP: n = 12; FC: n = 12) and their litters on lactation day four were analysed concerning the suckling duration, suckling frequency and suckling termination. For each housing system, six sows with litters with a low level of facial lesions and six sows with litters with a high level of facial lesions were chosen to investigate the influence of the suckling behaviour on the facial lesions of the piglets. The suckling duration per suckling bout was longer in the FP systems than in the FC systems (FP: 6.81 min vs. FC: 5.95 min; p < 0.05). Moreover, sows with litters with a low level of facial lesions terminated suckling less frequently (p < 0.05). In conclusion, keeping sows in free-farrowing pens can have a positive effect on the sows’ health by reducing the incidence of locomotion problems and skin lesions of the udder, as well as skin lesions of the face and skin lesions of the carpus of the piglets. Furthermore, the results show that the housing system has an influence on suckling duration and the incidence of skin lesions of the face of the piglets has an influence on sows’ terminations of suckling.
Nasal complex injuries are the most common facial fracture encountered in the trauma population. Multiple surgical techniques for treatment of these fractures have been described with varying ...results. The goal of this study was to review the efficacy of closed reduction of nasal and septal fractures using a technique based upon several key concepts. We reviewed the records of patients who had undergone isolated nasal and/or septal fractures with closed reduction at our institution between January 2013 and November 2021. Inclusion criteria consisted of preoperative CT imaging, surgical treatment within fourteen days of initial injury, and follow up of at least one year. All patients were treated under general or deep sedation. The same surgical technique was applied with closed reduction of the septum and nasal bones with internal and external postoperative splints. Of the 232 records initially reviewed, 103 met inclusion criteria. Four patients had undergone revision septorhinoplasty (3.9%). Mean (range) follow up was 2.7 (1–8.2) years. Three patients had undergone revision nasal repair due to persistent airflow obstruction with complete resolution of symptoms after revision. The other patient received multiple revisions at another institution as a result of their dissatisfaction with cosmesis without improvement. Closed reduction of nasal and septal fractures can be a highly successful procedure and yield predictable results, limiting the need for post-traumatic open septorhinoplastic surgery. Five critical concepts of nasal fracture repair can help surgeons achieve predictable functional and cosmetic results: selection, timing, anaesthesia, reduction, and support.
•Higher total piglet losses and crushed piglets in free-farrowing pens two days post partum.•Higher total piglet losses and crushed piglets in smaller free-farrowing pens (5.2 m2 vs. 6.2 m2).•Sows ...with low numbers of crushed piglets performed less rolling behaviour.•Piglets of sows with low numbers of crushed piglets were more active during postural changes of the sow.
Free-farrowing systems and group-housing systems for lactating sows are sensitive systems and require an optimal interaction of different environmental factors to be successful. The aim of the present study was to compare sows’ reproductive traits during lactation in two group-housing systems (GH; GHbig: n = 40; GHsmall: n = 40) and in a single-housing system (SH; n = 63). The two GH systems differed in size (GHbig: 8.3 m2 / sow; GHsmall: 7.1 m2 / sow). The GH sows were separated into free-farrowing pens from three days ante partum until six days post partum. For the remaining time, the sows and piglets were allowed to run together in the whole GH system. Data were collected in four batches with 20 GH sows (GHbig: n = 10; GHsmall: n = 10) and 16 SH sows in each housing system. Regarding the reproductive traits, sows of both GH systems had significantly more total piglet losses (e.g. crushing, underweight, runt) and crushed more piglets during lactation compared to the SH sows (p < 0.05). In addition, the GHsmall sows had higher total piglet losses and crushed more piglets compared to the GHbig sows (p < 0.05). Besides the reproductive traits, the lying down and rolling behaviour of both high-risk crushing sows (HRC; ≥35% crushed piglets; n = 10) and low-risk crushing sows (LRC;≤20% crushed piglets; n = 10) in the GH system were investigated in the first 72 h post partum to obtain more information about critical situations of piglets being crushed. HRC and LRC sows did not differ in their frequency of lying down movements. However, HRC and LRC sows performed more lying down movements by using the pen walls, which has been described as the safest way to prevent crushing. With regard to rolling movements, HRC sows rolled more frequently and performed significantly more 180° rolling movements from one side to the other side (p < 0.05) and 90° rolling movements ‘onto belly’ from the side onto the belly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, piglets of HRC sows were significantly less active during postural changes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the safety of the piglets with regard to higher pre-weaning mortality was reduced in the GH systems with the free-farrowing pens. In addition, the pen size of the free-farrowing pens of the GH systems had an influence on the total piglet losses. More piglet losses were documented for sows in smaller free-farrowing pens. Additionally, the detailed observation of HRC and LRC sows within the same housing system showed high variation in their maternal behaviour and in their postural changes in free-farrowing pens. Especially HRC sows performed more rolling movements compared to LRC sows.
The iron-binding protein lactoferrin is a multifunctional protein that has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumour, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties. All of these ...additional properties appear to be related to its highly basic N-terminal region. This part of the protein can be released in the stomach by pepsin cleavage at acid pH. The 25-residue antimicrobial peptide that is released is called lactoferricin. In this work, we review our knowledge about the structure of the peptide and attempt to relate this to its many functions. Microcalorimetry and fluorescence spectroscopy data regarding the interaction of the peptide with model membranes show that binding to net negatively charged bacterial and cancer cell membranes is preferred over neutral eukaryotic membranes. Binding of the peptide destabilizes the regular membrane bilayer structure. Residues that are of particular importance for the activity of lactoferricin are tryptophan and arginine. These two amino acids are also prevalent in "penetratins", which are regions of proteins or synthetic peptides that can spontaneously cross membranes and in short hexapeptide antimicrobial peptides derived through combinatorial chemistry. While the antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumour, and antiviral properties of lactoferricin can be related to the Trp/Arg-rich portion of the peptide, we suggest that the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties are more related to a positively charged region of the molecule, which, like the alpha- and beta-defensins, may act as a chemokine. Few small peptides are involved in as wide a range of host defense functions as bovine and human lactoferricin.Key words: lactoferricin, penetratin, tryptophan, arginine, membrane perturbation, fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, microcalorimetry.
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