Differentiation of Veillonella atypica, Veillonella dispar and Veillonella parvula using restricted fragment-length polymorphism analysis of 16S rDNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of pre-treatment counseling on discontinuation rates of 150 mg depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), given for contraception. METHODS: A total of 421 women participated, 204 receiving intensive structured pre-treatment and on going counseling on the hormonal effects and probable side effects of DMPA and 217 receiving only routine counseling. All participants were followed up at every 3 months for 1 year. The primary endpoint was termination rate, secondary endpoints were frequency of medical events and reasons for termination. RESULTS: The most common reasons for terminating DMPA were menstrual changes. Although women in the intensive structured counseling group reported more menstrual irregularity (39.7%) than did women in the routine counseling group (26.3%), study termination rates were significantly lower in the intensively structured counseling group than in the routine counseling group. At one year, the total cumulative termination rates were 11.3% (23/204) and 42.4% (92/217), respectively (P < 0.0001). No pregnancy and serious medical events were reported. CONCLUSION: Pre-treatment counseling on expected side effects increases the acceptability of DMPA.     

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis: a casual association or a causative one?

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease that mainly affects women of childbearing age. Pulmonary disease that is indistinguishable from LAM appears in 1% of patients with tuberous sclerosis (TS). At present we can not say whether we are looking at an association of two rare diseases or at a single disease with different clinical profiles. To date, open lung biopsy has been required for definitive diagnosis. We report the case of a women with TS and LAM in whom a diagnosis of pulmonary involvement was based on clinical signs and high resolution computerized tomography of the chest.     

Consistent lack of association between breast cancer and oral contraceptives using either hospital or neighborhood controls

BACKGROUND: Case-control studies of oral contraceptive use and breast cancer have used neighborhood, population, or hospital controls. METHODS: To determine whether this association differs according to type of controls, interview data from 131 incident cases of breast cancer were compared with those of 189 hospital controls and 182 neighborhood controls Study subjects were white females recruited between 1973 and 1975 from among residents of Baltimore City and County ages 18 to 59 years. RESULTS: Adjusted relative odds of breast cancer related to ever versus never use of oral contraceptives were 1.0 and 0.8, using hospital and neighborhood controls, respectively. Relative odds did not increase proportionally to duration of oral contraceptive use or to progestogen potency. Although few subjects had used oral contraceptives for more than 2 years, almost all pill brands contained more than 49 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol or of mestranol. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the present study do not support the hypothesis that early preparations of oral contraceptives increased breast cancer risk among white women, regardless of whether controls are neighbors of the cases or hospital patients. However, its conclusions cannot be generalized to women who began taking the pill before their first full-term birth or took it for more than 2 years.     

Vulvodynia and HIV: causal or casual association?

BACKGROUND: No study exists on HIV and vulvodynia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vulvodynia in HIV infected women and its possible association with HIV. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin. METHODS: 235 HIV positive and 272 HIV negative women were studied for vulvar pain between June 1995 and January 1997. Diagnosis of vulvodynia was based on clinical history, dermatological and vulvovaginal examination, and bacteriology. Colposcopy and vulvar biopsy were performed and psychometric examination was done. RESULTS: Vulvodynia was diagnosed in five women with HIV and in one uninfected woman (odds ratio = 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 0.1-62.6). High neuroticism scores were observed in women with history of vulvar pain, the highest in HIV infected vulvodynia patients (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Confirming the association of gynaecological pain with neurotic personality, our study suggests causal link between HIV and vulvodynia.     

Study of symbiotic, serological and antibiotic resistance characteristics of different Rhizobium cicerii strains

The symbiotic performance of 24 isolates of Rhizobium Cicerii, collected from different Tunisien soils, were studied in a growth room and compared to the performance of two international strains (Som and 43). The antibiotic and serologic tests showed a large biogenetic diversity among the different isolates. Three serogroups gathering 18 isolates have been identified. Monchar strain (isolat 12) was shown to be resistant to all the six different antibiotic used. The standard strain 43 produced the greatest number of nodules and the best nitrogen yield in association with "Amdoun" roots, whereas the Menzel bouzelfa isolate brought about the best nitrogen yield in association with "Amdoun" and thus was the most efficient. An interesting result, consisted on the existence of a significant correlation (r = 0.67) between streptomycin resistance of the isolates and their capacity of nodule initiation (infectivity).     

Down syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a mere coincidence or a significant association?

An 8-year-old male, who had Down syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is described. He also had a partial complement 4 deficiency. This case is a reminder that the physician should be aware of the possibility of an immune defect in a male presenting with SLE at a young age. The question of whether the association of Down syndrome with SLE is coincidental or whether there is a predilection for autoimmune disorders in Down syndrome is discussed.     

The association between the purchase of a handgun and homicide or suicide

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether purchase of a handgun from a licensed dealer is associated with the risk of homicide or suicide and whether any association varies in relation to time since purchase. METHODS: A case-control study was done among the members of a large health maintenance organization. Case subjects were the 353 suicide victims and 117 homicide victims among the members from 1980 through 1992. Five control subjects were matched to each case subject on age, sex, and zip code of residence. Handgun purchase information was obtained from the Department of Licensing. RESULTS: The adjusted relative risk of suicide was 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4, 2.5) for persons with a history of family handgun purchase from a registered dealer. The adjusted relative risk for homicide, given a history of family handgun purchase, was 2.2 (95% CI = 1.3, 3.7). For both suicide and homicide, the elevated relative risks persisted for more than 5 years after the purchase. CONCLUSIONS: Legal purchase of a handgun appears to be associated with a long-lasting increased risk of violent death.     

The relationship between anxiety and oral word association performance.

To test the comparative validity of 2 theories of anxiety (Sarason's interfering response and Spence and Taylor's drive theory), associations to word stimuli were analyzed. According to drive theory, anxiety should interfere with the number of different associations to the same word. Words that stimulate few associations should result in short reaction times and few disturbance of responsiveness and rare responses. According to interference theory there should be an effect upon association without an interaction between the degree of association value of the word and anxiety level of S. The results were interpreted as supporting Sarason's theory. From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4HK68G. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interbacterial binding among strains of pathogenic and commensal oral bacterial species

OBJECTIVE: Family resources and coping skills are important to adaptation to pediatric chronic illness. Psychological and educational interventions have been found to enhance the coping skills of children with juvenile rheumatic disease (JRD) and their families. We examined the efficacy of a 3-day family retreat as a multidisciplinary, comprehensive treatment. METHODS: Children with JRD and their caregivers completed questionnaires assessing the children's behavioral and emotional functioning, pain, strain on caregivers' work and leisure activities, and caregivers' psychological distress before and 6 months after the family retreat. Principal caregivers were both parents for 16 children, mothers only for 10 children, and an aunt for 1 child. RESULTS: Improvements were found in children's emotional functioning, strain on caregivers' work, and strain on caregivers' leisure activities. Reductions in reported pain were not consistently revealed. CONCLUSIONS: Family retreats are an efficacious, multidisciplinary approach to helping families of children with JRD cope with the disease and its manifestations. Importantly, retreats offer a comprehensive intervention package that might not be available to families on an individual basis.     

Urethral stenosis in children: treatment using urethroplasty with a vesical or oral mucosal graft

The fact that calcium ions regulate the secretion of thyroid hormones could be extended to explore how the mechanisms of anuran metamorphosis is controlled by thyroid hormones. In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate the effects of both calcium channel blocker, Diltiazem (DT) and calmodulin inhibitor, Trifluoperazine (TFP) on metamorphosis and various developmental stages of the anuran tadpole, Rana tigerina. Both DT (25 microM) and TFP (2 microM) treatments caused total inhibition of the development and metamorphosis of the tadpole at premetamorphic stages. The metamorphosis was delayed by DT and totally inhibited by TFP when tadpoles were exposed at prometamorphic stages. Both drugs could not affect the tadpoles at climax stage. The findings suggest an active involvement of thyroid hormone in premetamorphic tadpoles. Calcium channel blockage with DT could not prevent the progression of tadpoles through prometamorphic stages which suggest that the change in calcium pool is not a determining factor mediating thyroid hormone release mechanism. The study suggests that in tadpole growth thyroid hormone secretion is modulated by calmodulin bound intracellular calcium.     

Subliminally activated symbiotic fantasies: Facts and artifacts.

A quantitative review of subliminal symbiotic activation research is presented. Ss viewed {mommy} {and} {i} {are} {one} and other psychoanalytically relevant or neutral stimuli at subliminal exposure levels, and comparative effects on adaptive behavior were observed. The review procedure was one in which the results of a meta-analysis were corrected for statistical artifacts. Small but significant effects were revealed. All observed variance between studies is attributable to random sampling and measurement error. Future research designed to replicate basic experimental effects is deemed superfluous. Some implications for psychoanalytic theory, cognitive science, and subliminal perception research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Atypical Escherichia coli strains and their association with poult enteritis and mortality syndrome

To date, no definitive etiology has been described for Poult Enteritis and Mortality Syndrome (PEMS). However, two atypical Escherichia coli colony types are isolated consistently from moribund and dead poults afflicted with PEMS. To test the infectivity of these E. coli strains, poults were placed into floor pens in three isolation treatment rooms: 1) Control: no bacterial challenge, 2) E. coli colony Types 1 or 2 posthatch oral challenge: 10(8) cfu/per poult at 1 d, and 3) E. coli colony Types 1 or 2 posthatch oral challenge: 10(8) cfu/per poult at 6 d. Daily intramuscular injections of cyclophosphamide (100 micrograms per poult) from 1 to 5 d posthatch were given to half of the poults in each treatment. Atypical E. coli challenge caused BW depression, and cyclophosphamide treatment exacerbated the response. All E. coli-challenged poults developed diarrhea similar to PEMS. Mortality was increased by both atypical E. coli colony types, but at 21 d E. coli colony Type 2 caused greater mortality than colony Type 1. With cyclophosphamide treatment, mortality was exacerbated with both colony types, but colony Type 2 at 1 d caused the greatest mortality. Ultrastructural damage to ileum epithelium cell microvilli and subcellular organelles indicated that part of the BW depression could be attributed to malabsorption of nutrients. It was concluded that the atypical E. coli colony Types 1 and 2 play a significant role in the PEMS disease.     

Sarcoidosis-tuberculosis association: a case report

BACKGROUND: The effects of abrupt discontinuation and tapering of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on glucose concentration were compared in patients < 3 years of age. METHODS: Serial glucose concentrations were measured over 120 minutes after abrupt discontinuation as compared with tapering (decreasing infusion rate by 50% for 1 hour before discontinuation). Serial insulin concentrations were measured after abrupt discontinuation. RESULTS: There was a significantly greater decrease in glucose concentration from baseline at 30 minutes after abrupt discontinuation as compared with tapering. Fifty-five percent (6/11) of the patients developed hypoglycemia (glucose concentration < 40 mg/dL) after abrupt discontinuation. Age, glucose infusion rate, and serum insulin concentrations were not predictive of the development of hypoglycemia. The tapering regimen did not prevent hypoglycemia, which developed in 20% (2/10). CONCLUSION: The high incidence of hypoglycemia after TPN discontinuation in children < 3 years of age requires monitoring of serum glucose concentration when initiating intermittent TPN until tolerance is documented.     

Cefatrizine (SK&F 60771), a new oral cephalosporin: serum levels and urinary recovery in humans after oral or intramuscular administration--comparative study with cephalexin and cefazolin

Cefatrizine (SK&F 60771), a new broad-spectrum cephalosporin, was administered in a 0.5-g dose either orally or intramuscularly to volunteers in a crossover study. After oral administration, the average peak serum levels were 5.6 and 22.1 mug/ml for cefatrizine and cephalexin, respectively. The serum half-life of cefatrizine appeared to be more extended than that of cephalexin. Urinary recovery of cefatrizine (35%) was approximately half that of cephalexin (68%) after oral administration. After intramuscular injection of 0.5 g, the average peak serum level of cefatrizine (12.0 mug/ml) was approximately one-fourth that of cefazolin (44.0 mug/ml). The serum half-life after intramuscular injection was 86 min for cefatrizine and 118 min for cefazolin. Urinary recovery was 45% of the intramuscularly administered dose, as compared with cefazolin, which was 74%.     

Preliminary investigation of the association of oral lichen planus and hepatitis C

The autopsy findings of a 78-year-old man mimicking primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) are reported. He showed slowly progressive spasticity, pseudobulbar palsy and character change, and died 32 months after the onset of symptoms. Autopsy revealed severe atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes, remarkable neuronal loss and gliosis in the precentral gyrus, left temporal lobe pole and amygdala, mild degeneration of the Ammon's horn, degeneration of the corticospinal tract, and very mild involvement of the lower motor neurons. The anterior horn cells only occasionally demonstrated Bunina body by cystatin-C staining, and skein-like inclusions by ubiquitin staining. This is a peculiar case with concomitant involvement in the motor cortex and temporal lobe in motor neuron disease predominantly affecting the upper motor neuron.     

Inefficacy of oral antidiabetics: failure or natural history of diabetes?

A 28-year-old male presented with a rare case of an aneurysm at the origin of duplication of the middle cerebral artery manifesting as subarachnoid hemorrhage. Preoperative angiography revealed duplication of the right middle cerebral artery and an aneurysm at its origin, which was successfully clipped. He was discharged with no neurological deficits. Congenital factors may be more important in the etiology of aneurysms associated with this anomaly.     

A microbiologic and ultrastructural investigation of germ-tube formation by oral strains of Candida tropicalis

Presumptive germ tube-positive and -negative Candida tropicalis strains have been obtained from both normal children and patients who have candidiasis. Examination of these strains by conventional microbiologic tests confirmed them to be C. tropicalis. Ultrastructural examination of the filaments produced by the positive strains revealed two types: true germ tubes and those with basally constricted cytoplasm. A fluctuation analysis of the positive strains showed two subgroups: germ tube-positive and -negative. It is suggested that C. tropicalis strains may be divided into germ tube-positive and -negative strains, and that germ-tube formation must therefore not be used as a sole criterion for identification of C. albicans.