Expression and phosphorylation of neurofilament protein in different neuronal tissues / 中国病理生理杂志

The neurofilament proteins (NFPs) from different neuronal tissues including Alzheimer and Huntington disease gray matter, rat brain gray, white matter and spinal cord were separated biochemically into two major fractions. A systematic investigation on the distribution, expression and phosphorylation of NFPs in those fractions was undertaken in the present study. It was found that only non-phosphorylated NF-H and NF-M, but not NF-L subunit were detected in Alzheimer brain gray matter high speed supernatant, whereas all neurofilament subunits including non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated were measured in high speed pellet fraction of the same tissue. The hyperphosphorylation of NF-H and NF-M in Alzheimer brain was shown by phosphorylation dependent monoclonal antibodies SMI31 and SMI34. This hyperphosphorylation was confirmed by non-phosphorylation dependent antibody SMI32 with dephosphosphorylation of the samples. Furthermore, an increased amount of NF-H, NH-M and NF-L, detected by SMI33 and NR4 respectively, was also observed in Alzheimer samples, in which the elevation in NF-L was significant. A significantly different immunoblot patterns in distribution, expression and phosphorylation were determined in various position of the neural system and alternative fractions. To our best knowledge, this is the first data shown definite abnormality of NFPs in Alzheimer disease. The information obtained in the present study will be extremely valuable in further study of the proteins both in physiological and pathological conditions.

Pharynogocutaneous fistula following laryngectomy

Sixty-eight cases of stage III and IV laryngeal cancer were analysed to determine the frequency and management of post - operative pharyngocutaneous fistula [PCF]. The overall incidence in our series is 8.9% [6 cases]. In five patients PCF healed spontaneously without any surgical intervention while one patient expired due to concomitant other medical illness. The longest time taken by the fistula to heal by conservative treatment was 7 weeks. Retaining the NG tube for a longer period [14-16 days] and adequate and appropriate antibiotic cover reduces the incidence of fistula formation

Oesophageal foreign bodies

The impaction of foreign body into the upper digestive tract is a common accident, specially in children. Removal of foreign bodies from the oesophagus by oesophagoscopy under general anaesthesia has been considered to be relatively safe and effective. This paper reports 110 cases of oesophageal foreign bodies removed by rigid endoscopy. The common foreign bodies were coins [61%] and bone pieces [20%], 65% were in children under 10 years of age. Upper oesophageal sphincter was the commonest site of impaction