20 research outputs found
A Method for Shortening of the Rat Spine and its Neurologic Consequences
Large laboratory animals are the usual
choice for complex surgical procedures on the
spine and spinal cord, such as shortening of the
spine. It would, however, be advantageous to be
able to use a small inexpensive mammal like the
rat. We describe a procedure which allows
thoracic spondylectomy (T8-T9) to be
performed in the rat with a satisfactory survival
rate (69%). Functional consequences of the
procedure on animals with uninjured spinal
cord were monitored over a period of six
months, at which time histologic examination
was performed. There was a good correlation
between operative trauma, consisting of
mechanical injury to the cord assessed from the
surgical notes, and the duration of postoperative
spinal shock. Animals for which the cord
appeared laminated or deformed at the time of
sacrifice tended to show incomplete functional
recovery. Cord cavitation developed, in most
surviving animals (78%) but did not have a
measurable adverse effect on functional
outcome. In the present study, the cord was not
intentionally injured; however, availability of
this procedure may facilitate the future
development of methods to implement recovery
of function following spinal cord injury
6-[18F]Fluoro-L-DOPA and Cerebral Blood Flow in Unilaterally MPTP-Treated Monkeys
Intravenous administration of 15O-labeled
water and 6-[18F]-L-fluorodopa were used to
assess abnormal striatal activity in monkeys
after long-term recovery of unilateral lesions of
the dopaminergic nigro-striatal system induced
by the neurotoxin MPTP. PET data were
examined in relation to behavioral and
biological parameters. Cerebral blood flow and
6-[18F]-L-DOPA uptake were found to be
significantly reduced in the lesioned striatum,
compared to the unaffected side and to normal
controls. There was no correlation between
cerebral blood flow and any of the behavioral
parameters. The uptake rate constant of 18F-DOPA from blood to striatum and the ratios of
striatum to occipital areas were highly
correlated to the concentrations of homovanillic
acid in the cerebrospinal fluid of the same
animals but not to the rotational behavior. This
MPTP-inducedmodei of striatal dopamine
deficiency in primates presents similarities with
idiopathic Parkinson's disease and may be used
to evaluate the effects of dopaminergic lesions
and transplants on brain function
PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK
Abstract
Background
Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment.
Methods
All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals.
Results
A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death.
Conclusion
Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions.
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Childhood Experiences and Current Adjustment of Offspring of Indigent Patients With Schizophrenia
OBJECTIVE: This study reports the childhood experiences, current life situation and level of adjustment, and prior mental health service use of offspring of indigent people with schizophrenia. METHODS: Sixty-eight patient-parents were asked for consent for researchers to contact their adolescent and adult offspring. Thirty-nine consenting offspring were interviewed with an assessment battery that included measures of current occupational and social functioning, psychiatric status, and mental health service use. RESULTS: Interviewed offspring were raised in an average of three different settings from birth to 18 years of age. Relatives, particularly grandparents and aunts, were more likely to provide surrogate parenting than were nonkin foster parents and were more significant nurturing figures than biological parents. The typical offspring had a high school diploma, was gainfully employed, and was involved with a spouse or household partner or had a close friend. Twenty-three of the 39 offspring had children, and most were raising their children alone. Ten offspring had a diagnosis of major depression, schizoaffective disorder, or drug or alcohol abuse, but none had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Four of the ten offspring with a psychiatric diagnosis had never been treated. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the need for long-term studies of families with a parent who is a psychiatric patient. Rehabilitation efforts should include extended family who play a critical role in raising offspring during periods when patient-parents are unable to do so. Offspring should be included in efforts to educate families about schizophrenia