bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CT and MRI features in Bipolaris fungal sinusitis
Authors: Aribandi M , Bazan C 
Published: April 2007

Summary Bipolaris is an increasingly recognized cause of fungal sinusitis. Reports of imaging features are sparse. Our purpose was to review the imaging features in patients with Bipolaris fungal sinusitis. A review of our data showed seven patients with culture‐proven Bipolaris fungal sinusitis. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses in all the patients and MRI in five patients were analysed for the location, nature, extent of the disease and density/signal characteristics on CT/MRI. The sphenoid and posterior ethmoid sinuses were most often involved (six of seven), followed by the anterior ethmoid sinus (five of seven), frontal sinus (four of seven) and maxillary sinus (three of seven) involvement. Five of seven cases had bilateral disease. Secretions were seen to fill the sinus and were expansile in nature in six of seven cases. Bony erosion was noted in all the patients. Air–fluid levels and bony sclerosis were rarely seen. Computed tomography showed central hyperdensity in all the cases. In the corresponding MR images (n = 5), the sinus contents appeared hyperintense on T1‐weighted images and hypointense on T2‐weighted images. Extension into the nasal cavity was found in six of seven cases. Five of seven cases had intracranial (extradural) spread. Intraorbital extension was seen in three of seven cases, with associated optic nerve compression in two. All the patients responded to surgical debridement, and systemic antifungal therapy was not required. Bipolaris fungal sinusitis typically presents with an allergic fungal sinusitis picture with expansile sinus opacification and bony erosions. There is central hyperdensity on CT scan, which appears hyperintense on T1‐weighted and hypointense on T2‐weighted MR images.
Ureteroplasty with a cutting balloon: A novel approach to ureteric anastomotic strictures
Authors: Steiner DL , Johns‐Putra L , Lyon S 
Published: April 2007

SummaryThe Peripheral Cutting Balloon device was originally described to treat in‐stent coronary artery stenosis. We aim to evaluate the use of this device in the management of ureteric anastomotic strictures. Four patients with radiologically proven ureteric anastomotic strictures were treated with the Peripheral Cutting Balloon Device using an antegrade approach. Follow up ranged between 2 and 12 months. All patients’ initial procedure was successful, and all patients had improvement of symptoms. No patient showed evidence of biochemical deterioration of renal function, and no periprocedural complications occurred. One patient had restenosis as a result of invasive bladder cancer and required subsequent cystectomy. The Peripheral Cutting Balloon device is a novel instrument for the treatment of ureteric anastomotic strictures. Our experience shows promising short‐term results but more follow up is required.
Surface laser scanning to routinely produce casts for patient immobilization during radiotherapy*
Authors: McKernan B , Bydder SA , Deans T , Nixon MA , Joseph DJ 
Published: April 2007

SummaryImmobilization casts are used to reduce patient movement during the radiotherapy of head and neck and brain malignancies. Polyethylene‐based casts are produced by first taking a Plaster of Paris ‘negative’ impression of the patient. A ‘positive’ mould is then made, which is used to vacuum form an immobilization cast. Taking the ‘negative’ cast can be messy, stressful for patients and labour intensive. Recently, lightweight hand‐held laser surface scanners have become available. These allow an accurate 3‐D representation of objects to be generated non‐invasively. This technology has now been applied to the production of casts for radiotherapy. Each patient’s face and head is digitized using the Polhemus FastSCAN (Polhemus, Colchester, VT, USA) scanner. The electronic data are transferred to a computer numerical controlled mill, where a positive impression is machined. The feasibility of the process was examined, the labour required and radiation therapists’ satisfaction with aspects of the produced masks assessed. The scanner‐based method of mask production was found to be simple, accurate and non‐invasive. There was a reduction in radiation therapist labour required. Masks produced with the scanner‐based method were reported to result in improved mask fitting, daily reproducibility, patient immobilization and patient comfort.
Music therapy as a non‐pharmacological anxiolytic for paediatric radiotherapy patients
Authors: O’Callaghan C , Sexton M , Wheeler G 
Published: April 2007

SummaryOutpatient radiotherapy treatment in the paediatric cancer patient can be a traumatic and an anxiety‐provoking experience for both the patient and the family. Music therapy has been widely reported to have psychosocial, educational and physical benefits for the paediatric cancer patient. Using individual case reports, this paper shows the successful use of music therapy as a non‐pharmacological anxiolytic in the paediatric radiotherapy, outpatient waiting room setting, by providing the patient and the family with a means of communication, self‐expression and creativity.
Percutaneous retrieval of a chronic foreign body with both intravascular and extravascular components
Authors: Chu FSK , Tso WK , Lie AKW 
Published: April 2007

SummaryRemoval of unwanted intravascular foreign body is a useful but infrequent procedure carried out by interventional radiologists. We study a patient who had a long guidewire left in her body following central venous catheter placement by a surgeon. The guidewire was later found in situ, with both intravascular and extravascular components in continuity. We successfully removed the guidewire without causing any complications. Standard interventional techniques, Amplatz gooseneck snare (Microvena, White Bear Lake, MN, USA) and 6‐Fr Multipurpose catheter were used.
Prolonged survival after resection and radiotherapy for solitary brain metastases from non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Chee RJ , Bydder S , Cameron F 
Published: April 2007

SummarySelected patients with brain metastases from non‐small‐cell lung cancer benefit from aggressive treatment. This report describes three patients who developed solitary brain metastases after previous resection of primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. Each underwent surgical resection of their brain metastasis followed by cranial irradiation and remain disease free 10 or more years later. Two patients developed cognitive impairment approximately 8 years after treatment of their brain metastasis, which was felt to be due to their previous brain irradiation. Here we discuss the treatment of solitary brain metastasis, particularly the value of combined method approaches in selected patients and dose–volume considerations.
Presynaptic GABA‐A receptors prevent depression of nicotinic transmission in rabbit coeliac ganglion neurones
Authors: Ercoli Jennifer , Miolan Jean Pierre , Niel Jean Pierre , Quinson Nathalie 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe investigated the involvement of GABA‐A receptors in the modulation of the nicotinic transmission of central origin in isolated rabbit coeliac ganglia. Our study was performed in vitro and the electrical activity of the ganglionic neurones was recorded using intracellular recording techniques. During iterative stimulation of the splanchnic nerves, the synaptic action potential probability decreased gradually, indicating a depression of the nicotinic activation. Pharmacological agents acting at GABA‐A receptors modulated the action potential probability during the train of pulses. Muscimol (a GABA‐A receptor agonist), diazepam (a benzodiazepine site agonist) and 1‐[2‐[[(diphenylmethylene)imino]oxy]ethyl]‐1,2,5,6‐tetrahydro‐3‐pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrochloride (a GABA uptake blocker) increased this probability. Conversely, gabazine or bicuculline (two GABA‐A receptor antagonists), picrotoxin (a picrotoxin site agonist) and flumazenil (a benzodiazepine site antagonist) reduced it. These results demonstrate that endogenous GABA, released during the train of pulses, facilitates the central nicotinic activation of the ganglionic neurones by acting on GABA‐A receptors. Muscimol also reduced the amplitude ratio of excitatory postsynaptic potentials triggered during the paired‐pulse protocol without any change in postsynaptic properties. This result is consistent with a presynaptic action of GABA‐A receptors. Our study shows that presynaptic GABA‐A receptors facilitate the central nicotinic activation of prevertebral ganglionic neurones and thus play a novel role in the integrative properties of the sympathetic prevertebral ganglia.
Functional and ultrastructural analysis of group I mGluR in striatal fast‐spiking interneurons
Authors: Bonsi Paola , Sciamanna Giuseppe , Mitrano Darlene A. , Cuomo Dario , Bernardi Giorgio , Platania Paola , Smith Yoland , Pisani Antonio 
Published: April 2007

AbstractStriatal parvalbumin‐containing fast‐spiking (FS) interneurons provide a powerful feedforward GABAergic inhibition on spiny projection neurons, through a widespread arborization and electrical coupling. Modulation of FS interneuron activity might therefore strongly affect striatal output. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) exert a modulatory action at various levels in the striatum. We performed electrophysiological recordings from a rat striatal slice preparation to investigate the effects of group I mGluR activation on both the intrinsic and synaptic properties of FS interneurons. Bath‐application of the group I mGluR agonist, (S)‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine (3,5‐DHPG), caused a dose‐dependent depolarizing response. Both (S)‐(+)‐α‐amino‐4‐carboxy‐2‐methylbenzeneacetic acid (LY367385) and 7‐(hydroxyimino)cyclopropa[b]chromen‐1a‐carboxylate ethyl ester (CPCCOEt), selective mGluR1 antagonists, significantly reduced the amplitude of the membrane depolarization caused by 3,5‐DHPG application. Conversely, mGluR5 antagonists, 2‐methyl‐6‐(phenylethylnyl)pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP) and 6‐methyl‐2‐(phenylazo)‐3‐pyridinol (SIB1757), were unable to affect the response to 3,5‐DHPG, suggesting that only mGluR1 contributes to the 3,5‐DHPG‐mediated excitatory action on FS interneurons. Furthermore, mGluR1 blockade significantly decreased the amplitude of the glutamatergic postsynaptic potentials, whereas the mGluR5 antagonist application produced a small nonsignificant inhibitory effect. Surprisingly, our electron microscopic data demonstrate that the immunoreactivity for both mGluR1a and mGluR5 is expressed extrasynaptically on the plasma membrane of parvalbumin‐immunoreactive dendrites of FS interneurons. Together, these results suggest that despite a common pattern of distribution, mGluR1 and mGluR5 exert distinct functions in the modulation of FS interneuron activity.
Axons of callosal neurons bifurcate transiently at the white matter before consolidating an interhemispheric projection
Authors: Garcez Patricia P. , Henrique Narjara P. , Furtado Danilo A. , Bolz Jürgen , Lent Roberto , Uziel Daniela 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe main alternative output routes of adult cortical axons are the internal capsule and the corpus callosum. How do callosal axons choose their trajectories? We hypothesized that bifurcation followed by elimination of one branch is a developmental strategy for accomplishing this aim. Using embryonic and postnatal mice, we labelled cortical projecting neurons and quantified their axonal bifurcations in correlation with the mediolateral position of their somata. Bifurcating axons were numerous in the younger brains but declined during further development. Most bifurcating axons pertained to neurons located in the dorsolateral cortex. Moreover, callosal neurons bifurcate more often than subcortically projecting cells. We then quantified bifurcations formed by dissociated green fluorescent cells plated onto cortical slices. Cells grown over dorsolateral cortex bifurcated more often than those grown over medial cortex, irrespective of their positional origin in the donor. Removal of intermediate targets from the slices prevented bifurcation. We concluded that transient bifurcation and elimination of the lateral branch is a strategy employed by developing callosal axons in search of their targets. As cell body position and intermediate targets determine axon behaviour, we suggest that bifurcations are regulated by cues expressed in the environment.
REVIEW ARTICLE: Cortical control of eye and head movements: integration of movements and percepts
Authors: Longtang Chen L. , Tehovnik Edward J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe cortical control of eye movements is well known. It remains unclear, however, as to how the eye fields of the frontal lobes generate and coordinate eye and head movements. Here, we review the recent advances in electrical stimulation studies and evaluate relevant models. As electrical stimulation is conducted in head‐unrestrained, behaving subjects with the evoked eye and head movements sometimes being indistinguishable from natural gaze shifts, a pertinent question becomes whether these movements are evoked by motor programs or sensory percepts. Recent stimulation studies in the visual cortex and the eye fields of the frontal lobes have begun to bring both possibilities to light. In addition, cognitive variables often interact with behavioral states that can affect movements evoked by stimulation. Identifying and controlling these variables are critical to our understanding of experimental results based on electrically evoked movements. This understanding is needed before one can draw inferences from such results to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying natural and complex movements.
Increased occurrence of climbing fiber inputs to the cerebellar flocculus in a mutant mouse is correlated with the timing delay of optokinetic response
Authors: Yoshida Takashi , Funabiki Kazuo , Hirano Tomoo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe cerebellum plays an essential role in motor control, and its dysfunction may delay the onset of action and disrupt smooth and efficient movement. A Purkinje neuron (PN), the sole output cell type in the cerebellar cortex, receives two distinct types of excitatory synaptic inputs, numerous weak inputs from granule neurons (GNs) and occasional strong inputs from a climbing fiber (CF). The role of each input and the significance of low firing rate of CF have been studied. Here we show that the increased occurrence of CF inputs altered the firing pattern of a PN, which was correlated with timing of a reflex. We used the mutant mice deficient in the glutamate receptor δ2 subunit, a molecule related to ionotropic glutamate receptor specifically expressed at GN–PN synapses. The mutant mouse shows more frequent CF inputs and longer timing delay in optokinetic response (OKR), reflex eye movement that follows slow motion of a large visual field. A PN shows two types of action potentials: complex spikes (CS) induced by CF inputs; and simple spikes. They changed respective firing rates during sinusoidal optokinetic stimulation, and the timing of each firing rate modulation was similar in wild‐type and mutant mice. However, increased occurrence of CS in the mutant altered the total firing pattern of a PN in the flocculus, which was correlated with the timing delay of OKR. These results support the functional merit of low firing rate of CF in motor control.
Synapse‐specific localization of vesicular glutamate transporters in the rat olfactory bulb
Authors: Gabellec Marie‐Madeleine , Panzanelli Patrizia , Sassoè‐Pognetto Marco , Lledo Pierre‐Marie 
Published: April 2007

AbstractVesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) mediate the packaging of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate into synaptic vesicles. Three VGLUT subtypes have so far been identified, with distinct expression patterns in the adult brain. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution of the three VGLUTs in the rat olfactory bulb, a brain region containing a variety of glutamate synapses, both axodendritic and dendrodendritic. Using multilabelling confocal microscopy and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, we showed that each VGLUT isoform has a highly selective localization in olfactory bulb synapses. VGLUT1 is present at dendrodendritic synapses established by the output neurones (mitral and tufted cells) with bulbar interneurones in the glomerular layer and external plexiform layer, as well as in axonal synapses of the granule cell layer. By contrast, VGLUT2 is strongly expressed in axon terminals of olfactory sensory neurones, which establish synapses with second‐order neurones in the glomerular neuropil. VGLUT2 is also found in the outer part of the external plexiform layer and in the granule cell layer but colocalizes only partially with VGLUT1. Finally, we showed that VGLUT3 is exclusively located in the glomerular neuropil, where it colocalizes extensively with the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter vesicular GABA transporter, suggesting that it is associated with a subset of inhibitory synapses. Together, these observations extend previous findings on VGLUT distribution in the forebrain, and suggest that each VGLUT subtype has a specific function in the distinct features of axodendritic and dendrodendritic synapses that characterize the olfactory bulb circuit.
Impact of chronic subthalamic high‐frequency stimulation on metabolic basal ganglia activity: a 2‐deoxyglucose uptake and cytochrome oxidase mRNA study in a macaque model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Meissner Wassilios , Guigoni Celine , Cirilli Laetitia , Garret Maurice , Bioulac Bernard H. , Gross Christian E. , Bezard Erwan , Benazzouz Abdelhamid 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe mechanisms of action of high‐frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) remain only partially understood. Hitherto, experimental studies have suggested that STN‐HFS reduces the activity of STN neurons. However, some recent reports have challenged this view, showing that STN‐HFS might also increase the activity of globus pallidus internalis (GPi) neurons that are under strong excitatory drive of the STN. In addition, most results emanate from studies applying acute STN‐HFS, while parkinsonian patients receive chronic stimulation. Thus, the present study was designed to assess the effect of chronic (10 days) STN‐HFS in the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated nonhuman primate. For this purpose, 2‐deoxyglucose (2‐DG) uptake, a measure of global synaptic activity, was assessed in the basal ganglia and the motor thalamus after chronic unilateral STN‐HFS. Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mRNA expression, a marker of efferent metabolic activity, was additionally assessed in the globus pallidus. Chronic STN‐HFS (i) reversed abnormally decreased 2‐DG uptake in the STN of parkinsonian nonhuman primates, (ii) reversed abnormally increased 2‐DG accumulation in the GPi while COI mRNA expression was increased, suggesting global activation of GPi neurons, and (iii) reversed abnormally increased 2‐DG uptake in the ventrolateral motor thalamus nucleus. The simultaneous decrease in 2‐DG uptake and increase in COI mRNA expression are difficult to reconcile with the current model of basal ganglia function and suggest that the mechanisms by which STN‐HFS exerts its clinical benefits are more complex than a simple reversal of abnormal activity in the STN and its targets.
Sex differences in catechol contents in the olfactory bulb of control and unilaterally deprived rats
Authors: Gómez C. , Briñón J. G. , Valero J. , Recio J. S. , Murias A. R. , Curto G. G. , Orio L. , Colado M. I. , Alonso J. R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe dopaminergic system plays important roles in the modulation of olfactory transmission. The present study examines the distribution of dopaminergic cells and the content of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in control and deprived olfactory bulbs (OB), focusing on the differences between sexes. The content of DA and of its metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), were measured by HPLC. The morphology and distribution of dopaminergic neurons were studied using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry. Cells were typified with TH–parvalbumin, TH–cholecystokinin or TH–neurocalcin double‐immunofluorescence assays. Biochemical analyses revealed sex differences in the content of DA and of its metabolites. In normal conditions, the OBs of male rats had higher concentrations of DA, DOPAC and HVA than the OBs of females. The immunohistochemical data pointed to sex differences in the number of TH‐immunopositive cells (higher in male than in female rats). Colocalization analyses revealed that dopaminergic cells constitute a different cell subpopulation from those labelled after parvalbumin, cholecystokinin or neurocalcin immunostaining. Unilateral olfactory deprivation caused dramatic alterations in the dopaminergic system. The DA content and the density of dopaminergic cells decreased, the contents of DA and DOPAC as well as TH immunoreactivity were similar in deprived males and females and, finally, the metabolite/neurotransmitter ratio increased. Our results show that the dopaminergic modulation of olfactory transmission seems to differ between males and females and that it is regulated by peripheral olfactory activity. A possible role of the dopaminergic system in the sexually different olfactory sensitivity, discrimination and memory is discussed.
The neuropeptide corticotropin‐releasing factor regulates excitatory transmission and plasticity at the climbing fibre‐Purkinje cell synapse
Authors: Schmolesky M. T. , De Ruiter M. M. , De Zeeuw C. I. , Hansel C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe climbing fibre (CF) input controls cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) activity as well as synaptic plasticity at parallel fibre (PF)‐PC synapses. Under high activity conditions, CFs release not only glutamate, but also the neuropeptide corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF). Brief periods of such high CF activity can lead to the induction of long‐term depression (LTD) at CF‐PC synapses. Thus, we have examined for the first time the role of CRF in regulating excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and long‐term plasticity at this synapse. Exogenous application of CRF alone transiently mimicked three aspects of CF‐LTD, causing reductions in the CF‐evoked excitatory postsynaptic current, complex spike second component and complex spike afterhyperpolarization. The complex spike first component is unaffected by CF‐LTD induction and was similarly unaffected by CRF. Application of a CRF receptor antagonist reduced the expression amplitude and induction probability of CF‐LTD monitored at the EPSC level. Collectively, these results suggest that under particular sensorimotor conditions, co‐release of CRF from climbing fibres could down‐regulate excitatory transmission and facilitate LTD induction at CF‐PC synapses. Inhibition of either protein kinase C (PKC) or protein kinase A (PKA) attenuated the effects of CRF upon CF‐EPSCs. We have previously shown that CF‐LTD induction is PKC‐dependent, and here demonstrate PKA‐dependence as well. These results suggest that both the acute effects of CRF on CF‐EPSCs as well as the facilitating effect of CRF on CF‐LTD induction can be explained by a CRF‐mediated recruitment of PKC and PKA.