Coupled column chromatography in chiral separation of salmeterol

The neuromuscular hamartoma (also referred to as the neuromuscular choristoma or benign triton tumor) is a rare developmental lesion composed of mature elements of both striated muscle and nerve. To date, less than 20 cases have been reported in the English language literature. The majority of these have involved large nerves, such as the sciatic or brachial plexus, but cutaneous lesions have also been reported. We report 2 cases that involve the head and neck and that are among the few described in this location. The majority of cases have been described in infants and young children. However, 1 of our cases (and at least 1 previously reported case) occurred in an adult. While surgical excision has been the most widely used form of therapy, a few cases have been complicated by and/or associated with a second lesion, such as a fibromatosis or lymphangioma.     

Micronuclear and macronuclear sequences of a Euplotes crassus gene encoding a putative nuclear protein kinase

Tacrolimus (FK506) is a new immunosuppressive agent that has recently been given to recipients of liver transplants. Multicentre studies conducted in the United States and Europe have reported that tacrolimus is superior to cyclosporine in preventing allograft rejection. The absorption of tacrolimus is independent of bile, and, therefore, therapeutic blood levels are usually achieved by taking oral preparations within 72 hours of liver transplantation. Compared with the use of cyclosporine, this regimen has resulted in shorter hospital stays and reduced costs. Tacrolimus does not cause hirsutism or gingival hyperplasia, which are common disfiguring complications of cyclosporine. Serious neurological side effects, lymphoproliferative disorders and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have recently been reported in children taking high doses of tacrolimus. When lower doses of tacrolimus are used in primary immunosuppressive therapy, the incidence of neurological side effects and lymphoproliferative disorders of tacrolimus and cyclosporine have been reported to be similar. Hence, tacrolimus is a potent immunosuppressant that has many advantages over cyclosporine but must be used cautiously, since high doses have been associated with an increased incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders and cardiomyopathy.     

New contributions to the study of chromophobe-cell renal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The present study describes a case of the recently discovered chromophobe cell carcinoma of the kidney. Additional findings that have not been previously reported are presented and the importance of the clinical and anatomopathological diagnosis of this tumor type is underscored. METHODS: The tumor presented in a 72-year-old female with symptoms and signs that were not distinct from those of other more common renal tumors. She underwent a right radical nephrectomy. Histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies were performed and the findings were compared with those reported in the literature. RESULTS: The foregoing studies disclosed a chromophobe cell renal carcinoma, with some findings-chiefly ultrastructural-that have not been previously described. CONCLUSION: Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma, a tumor type that has recently been identified, is the subject of several studies that have been conducted to permit its clinical and anatomopathological characterization. The present study describes some observations which, to our knowledge, have not been previously described elsewhere.     

4-iodotamoxifen aziridine, a new affinity labeling agent for the rapid detection of estrogen receptor isoforms

During the past few years significant progress has been made in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma. These developments often involve the use of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha). Promising results have been reported in high risk patients using adjuvant treatment with high dose IFNalpha. A confirmatory trial of high dose IFNalpha and several adjuvant trials using low or intermediate dose IFNalpha are ongoing, and currently a standard regimen cannot be defined. High response rates have been reported in patients with metastatic disease with combination chemoimmunotherapy schedules. Randomized trials have to be performed in order to demonstrate a survival benefit over less toxic regimens. In this paper the current status of IFNalpha in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma is reviewed.     

A rapid, specific membrane filtration procedure for enumeration of enterococci in recreational water

BACKGROUND: Perioperative and long-term problems associated with the Fontan circulation are substantial. There has been an exploration of extending the limits of a biventricular ventricular repair by using a superior vena cava-to-pulmonary artery anastomosis. This type of repair is known as a 1 1/2 ventricle repair. METHODS: Patients having defects of the pulmonary ventricle in size or function have undergone 1 1/2 ventricle repairs with or without creation of an atrial septal defect. Repairs with tricuspid z values as small as -10 and predicted pulmonary ventricular volumes as low as 30% have been reported. The 1 1/2 ventricle repair technique has also been used in special situations associated with an arterial switch or double switch procedure. RESULTS: Mortality has ranged from 0% to 12%. Complications have included persistent elevation of superior vena cava pressure, intermittent periorbital edema, and 1 superior vena caval aneurysm requiring takedown. There appears to be an increased risk of perioperative pleural effusions and chylothorax. Protein-losing enteropathy and chronic atrial arrhythmias have not been present. CONCLUSIONS: Successful 1 1/2 ventricle repairs have been reported for morphologically small or poorly functioning pulmonary ventricles and special situations. Intermediate-term follow-up is favorable when compared with reported outcomes for the Fontan circulation.     

Acute myeloid leukemia with concomitant expression of T-/B-lymphoid antigens and immunogenotypic alterations exhibiting t(7;12)(q32;q24)

We report here a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) expressing both T- and B-lymphoid-associated antigens. The leukemia cells in this case had rearrangements of not only immunoglobulin heavy-chain but also T-cell-receptor beta- and delta-chain genes. Although a relatively large number of AML patients with lymphoid markers have been reported, only about a dozen AML patients expressing both T- and B-lymphoid markers have been reported so far.     

Priapism following splenectomy in an unstable hemoglobin: hemoglobin Olmsted beta 141 (H19) Leu-->Arg

Approximately 10-20% of the reported patients with acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) have an associated neoplasm. Oral findings of Sweet's syndrome are rarely reported, and no cases in patients with oral cancer have been reported to date. This report describes the clinico- and histopathological findings of Sweet's syndrome in a patient with oral cancer, treated with radiotherapy. After 10 fractions of external beam radiotherapy, treatment was interrupted because of severe oral mucositis which extended beyond the radiation fields. Two days later the patient developed multiple tender skin lesions and the diagnosis Sweet's syndrome was made. Skin and oral lesions resolved without additional treatment and did not recur upon resuming radiotherapy. As suggested in previous case reports, tumour antigens might play a role in the development of Sweet's syndrome. In this case, irradiation therapy may also have been a trigger for this syndrome.     

Occurrence of introns in the 16S rRNA genes of members of the genus Thermoproteus

Cervical smears (n = 150) from five departments showing high-grade dyskaryosis were examined by three cytologists. All the smears came from patients with biopsy-proven CIN III. One hundred had been correctly reported (true positives) but 50 had originally been reported as negative and had been found to be positive only on review (false negatives). There were significant differences between the two sets in the characteristics of the dyskaryotic cell population. The false-negative smears tended to have fewer than 200 dyskaryotic cells. The nuclei of the dyskaryotic cells tended to have fine rather than coarse nuclear chromatin. A smear with fewer than 50 dyskaryotic cells is 26 times more likely to be reported as negative than one with more than 200 dyskaryotic cells. The results suggest that there is a type of severely dyskaryotic smear that is inherently likely to be missed on routine screening.     

Tremor and other movement disorders after whiplash type injuries

Movement disorders are usually of central origin, but have been reported in association with peripheral trauma. Injuries to the neck of the whiplash type provide a source of both types of injuries. Six cases are reported in which the temporal relation between the injury and the movement disorder make a causal relation likely. This important cause of disability has not previously been appreciated.     

Ross River virus infection in the north-west outskirts of the Sydney basin

In early 1997, 69 cases of Ross River virus infection were reported in the north-western outskirts of Sydney. This represents a substantial increase over the maximum of 12 cases reported in any one year since 1991. The majority of cases (71%) are thought to have been locally acquired. This is the first reported outbreak of Ross River virus infection in this area and highlights the need for metropolitan health services to be vigilant about a disease that has primarily been associated with rural and semirural areas in New South Wales.     

Dimethylformamide-induced occupational liver injury--a case report

Dimethylformamide(DMF), a widely used industrial solvent, has been reported to induce subtle to clinically overt hepatotoxicity. Liver injury due to occupational exposure through inhalation and skin contact have been sporadically reported. We reported a 42-year-old male Taiwanese who developed progressive, intermittent abdominal pain for 6 months after working in a synthetic leather factory. Acute hepatitis episode occurred after working in an enclosed and poorly-ventilated workplace for one day. Based on occupational history, pathological examination and serial liver function examinations, the case was compatible with DMF-induced acute chemical hepatitis.     

Relation of heart rate variability and serum lipoproteins in type 1 diabetes mellitus and chronic stable angina pectoris

Extended trochanteric osteotomies have been recommended to facilitate femoral component removal, femoral cement removal, and acetabular exposure in cases of difficult revision hip arthroplasty. Complications due to the osteotomy have been rare and no nonunions have been reported when this osteotomy has been used in conjunction with extensively porous-coated implants. It has been suggested that the osteotomy should also work well with impaction grafting revisions. This is a report of two cases of nonunion of extended trochanteric osteotomies in which the impaction grafting technique was used.     

A case of massive thymolipoma

A massive anterior mediastinal tumor was discovered in a 9-year-old girl with long-standing symptoms of asthma. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results suggested the presence of a thymolipoma, a rare benign tumor of the thymus. Few cases have been reported in the literature, although the histological and radiographic features have been well described. This case confirms previously reported characteristics and also illuminates new aspects of clinical presentation and perioperative management.     

Report of nine cases of accidental injury to man with Freund's complete adjuvant

Nine cases of accidental injury with Freund's complete adjuvant to man are reported. One case is reported in detail and the other eight have been seen and reviewed retrospectively. Reactions developed in Mantoux positive individuals, who injected Freund's complete adjuvant with another protein. However, not all such injections produced the reaction. Treatment was unsuccessful, although one reaction may have been aborted by early surgical excision of the site of injection.     

Molecular evolution: recent cases of spliceosomal intron gain?

The 'introns-late' theory holds that spliceosomal introns have been added to genes during eukaryotic evolution. Few clear examples of recent intron gains have been well documented, but two such cases have now been reported, one with possible identification of the source of the intron.     

Concomitant rotator cuff tear and brachial plexus injury in association with anterior shoulder dislocation: unhappy triad of the shoulder

High incidences of nerve lesions or rotator cuff tears in association with shoulder dislocations have been reported. However, the simultaneous occurrence of these three lesions has only been reported once previously. This case is an example of a not so uncommon injury, which emphasizes the importance of looking for associated brachial plexus and rotator cuff lesions when examining a patient with shoulder dislocation.     

The effect of cimetidine on antipyrine metabolism in calves

The decline in the function of the growth hormone-releasing hormone, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (GHRH-GH-IGF) axis has been termed the somatopause. Many of the catabolic sequelae seen in normal aging has been attributed to this decrease in circulating GH and IGF-I. In order to provide hormone replacement therapy for the somatopause, elderly subjects have been treated with GH, IGF-I, or both hormones together. Whereas numerous beneficial effects on body composition, strength, and quality of life have been reported in some studies, other studies have reported only marginal functional improvements. Moreover, it is clear that both hormones can cause significant morbidity.     

The use of direct deposition electron microscope autoradiography in studies of protein transport

The use of direct deposition autoradiography in studies of the localization of proteins labelled with radio-iodine or tritium in the epithelia of fetal, suckling, and adult animals is described. Using a single marker in the first place, rabbit IgG and bovine IgG have been seen both in the vacuolar apparatus and also free in the cytoplasm of endodermal cells of the rabbit yolk-sac splanchnopleur. This has been confirmed in those cells using a combination of bovine IgG marked with tritium and rabbit IgG marked with 125I, presented simultaneously to the cells. Both proteins are present, apparently equally, attached to the brush border and distributed through the cytoplasm, as well as within vacuoles. Selection does not take place before or during entry to the cell, as has been suggested by quantitative results which have been reported elsewhere. It is hoped that the use of two markers together will permit localization of the selective process. In the adult rat gut, both isotopes have been demonstrated entering and within and leaving the ileal cell, confirming quantitative results reported elsewhere.     

A high proportion of novel mutations in BRCA1 with strong founder effects among Dutch and Belgian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families

We have identified 79 mutations in BRCA1 in a set of 643 Dutch and 23 Belgian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families collected either for research or for clinical diagnostic purposes. Twenty-eight distinct mutations have been observed, 18 of them not previously reported and 12 of them occurring more than once. Most conspicuously, a 2804delAA mutation has been found 19 times and has never been reported outside the Netherlands. A common haplotype spanning > or = 375 kb could be identified for each of the nine examined recurrent mutations, indicating the presence of multiple BRCA1 founder mutations in the Dutch population. The 2804delAA mutation has been estimated to have originated approximately 32 generations ago. No specific breast or ovarian cancer phenotype could be assigned to any of the common mutations, and the ovarian cancer incidence among 18 families with the 2804delAA mutation was heterogeneous.