Evaluation of a pregnancy-testing protocol in adolescents undergoing surgery

A 14-year-old boy presented acutely with occipital headache, nausea and vomiting. MRI showed obstructive hydrocephalus and marked bilateral cerebellar swelling with increased signal on T2-weighted imaging. Following treatment with oral corticosteroids, the clinical and radiological signs resolved. The clinical course and radiological appearances were consistent with cerebellitis associated with a significant mass effect and hydrocephalus.     

The role of bronchial biopsy and washing in the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

A polymorphism in the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been associated with cerebrovascular diseases as a new potent risk factor. The purpose of this study was to investigate an association of the gene polymorphism with intracranial saccural aneurysmal patients. The study population consisted of 83 aneurysmal patients (age range 41-85 years) (the AN group) and 104 matched control subjects (age range 30-81 years) (the Control group). For detection of the ACE gene polymorphism, the standard PCR method was performed by using genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. The PCR products were a 490-bp in the presence of the insertion (I) and a 190-bp fragment in the absence of the insertion (D). The ACE gene polymorphism was classified into three genotypes: I/I genotype (a 490-bp band); D/D genotype (a 190-bp band); or I/D genotype (both a 490-bp and a 190-bp band). The number of subjects with I/I, I/D, and D/D genotypes was 38, 40, and 5 in the AN group and 43, 45, and 16 in the Control group, respectively. The frequency of the D/D genotype in the AN group was significantly lower (5/83 = 0.06) than that in the Control group (16/104 = 0.15) (chi 2 = 4.06; p = 0.044). There was no significant difference between the genotype sof hypertensive patients and normotensive patients in the AN group. Thus, this present study suggests that genetic heterogeneity of the ACE gene may be correlated with the etiology of intracranial aneurysms.     

Small intestinal dysmotility following abdominal irradiation in the rat small intestine

Abdominal symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and vomiting are common during and after abdominal radiotherapy for gynaecological and pelvic malignancy. It has recently been recognized that small intestinal dysmotility may contribute to these symptoms but the underlying mechanisms are unclear in part because of the technical difficulties inherent in performing studies in irradiated small intestine. The aim of the current study was to evaluate small intestinal motor activity using perfused micromanometric techniques in 6-8-cm segments of ileum during arterial perfusion with isotonic oxygenated fluorocarbon solution. Intestinal segments from six rats were studied 4 days after treatment with 10 Gy abdominal irradiation. Ileal segments from nine nonirradiated animals acted as controls. For each experiment the total number of pressure waves, high-amplitude (> 20 mmHg, long-duration > 6 sec) pressure waves, and long (> 20 associated) bursts of pressure waves were determined. Irradiation had no effect on the overall number of pressure waves, but increased high-amplitude long-duration (HALD) pressure waves (248 vs 7, P < 0.01). In control animals HALD waves were localized to a single recording site but after radiotherapy 74% of HALD waves were temporally associated with similar pressure waves in other manometric channels. Forty-seven per cent of associated HALD waves migrated aborally. Retrograde migration of HALD waves was seen in five segments following irradiation. Irradiation abolished bursts of > 20 pressure waves.     

O-GlcNAcylation of key nuclear and cytoskeletal proteins: reciprocity with O-phosphorylation and putative roles in protein multimerization

BACKGROUND: Registered mortality from cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) in England and Wales has increased substantially since the specific International Classification of Diseases code for CFA was introduced in 1979. However, since a significant proportion of deaths from CFA are misclassified as post inflammatory fibrosis (PIF), it is possible that the observed rise in CFA mortality is due to diagnostic transfer from this code. To investigate this, and to assess mortality trends in other countries, annual CFA and PIF mortality data from England and Wales, USA, Australia, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany were analysed. METHODS: Crude annual mortality rates were calculated and rates standardised by Poisson regression to allow assessment of changes over time and comparison between countries, sexes, and age groups. The relative trends in mortality from CFA and PIF were assessed by calculating the annual ratio of CFA to PIF deaths. RESULTS: Men were more likely than women to die from both CFA and PIF in all countries. The highest standardised CFA mortality rate occurred in England and Wales, and the lowest in Germany. Since 1979 mortality from CFA has increased in England and Wales, Australia, Scotland and Canada, but there was no trend in CFA mortality in New Zealand or Germany. In the USA mortality from CFA was low and has fallen. Mortality from PIF increased in all countries except New Zealand and Germany, and the highest PIF mortality, together with the greatest increase over time, was seen in the USA. Changes over time in the annual ratio of CFA to PIF deaths in all countries were small, implying that diagnostic transfer is not a major cause of the increasing CFA mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality from CFA continues to increase in England and Wales and in many other countries. Diagnostic transfer from PIF does not appear to be a major cause of this.     

The role of anterior ectosylvian cortex in cross-modality orientation and approach behavior

Benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD), a sensitizer currently in clinical trials, was evaluated for the treatment of experimental Greene melanoma implanted in the rabbit iris. To improve tumor targeting, BPD was complexed with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) representing an endogenous carrier system for BPD as previously described. Twelve tumors were irradiated at a sensitizer dose of 2 mg kg-1 body weight using a dye laser at 692 nm. Tumor responses were documented by photography, angiography and light and electron microscopy. All tumors treated with 80 J cm-2 regressed irreversibly. The principal mechanism of tumor necrosis was thrombosis following disruption of endothelial membranes. Ultrastructure data suggested tumor cell damage, although evidence for this being the result of direct PDT-mediated tumor cell death was less clear. These data suggest that BPD-LDL may be used to improve the selectivity of photodynamic tumor therapy possibly by the increased uptake of lipoprotein-delivered sensitizer to neovascular endothelial cells.     

Pattern of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in the ovine uterus during the estrous cycle and pregnancy

The present study was designed to examine the pattern and cellular localization of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 beta-HSD1) gene expression in the ovine uterus during pregnancy and at 3 mo postpartum. High levels of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA were detected in the endometrium from Days 60 to 143 (term = 145 days), and the levels did not change significantly during that time. The level of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA in the endometrium was always much higher than that in the myometrium, in which the mRNA was not readily detectable throughout pregnancy; at 3 mo postpartum, 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA became undetectable in both endometrium and myometrium. Within the endometrium, intense immunoreactive 11 beta-HSD1 was localized exclusively to the luminal epithelium, and the intensity of 11 beta-HSD1 immunostaining closely followed the level of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA. To determine whether the level of endometrial 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA was related to the status of ovarian function, tissues from non-pregnant animals at different stages of their reproductive cycle were also examined. It was found that 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA was undetectable in the endometrium of cycling animals up to Day 9 of the estrous cycle but was detectable thereafter. Taken together, these results demonstrate that within the ovine uterus the endometrium is always the dominant site of 11 beta-HSD1 gene expression in relation to the myometrium. Furthermore, the expression of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA in the endometrium is closely related to the status of the reproductive cycle. The mRNA for 11 beta-HSD1 is highly expressed only during pregnancy and in non-pregnant animals during the late luteal phase. Since circulating levels of progesterone are elevated during both of these periods, the present findings suggest a progesterone effect on uterine 11 beta-HSD1 gene expression.     

Growth arrest failure, G1 restriction point override, and S phase death of sensory precursor cells in the absence of neurotrophin-3

The attachment of pathogenic microorganisms to host cells and tissues is often mediated through the expression of surface receptors recognizing components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we investigate the ability of Borrelia spirochaetes to bind the ECM constituent, fibronectin. Borrelia lysates were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose and probed with alkaline phosphatase-labelled fibronectin (fibronectin-AP). Five of six Borrelia species and four of eight B. burgdorferi sensu lato isolates expressed one or more fibronectin-binding proteins. Borrelia burgdorferi isolate B31 expressed a 47 kDa (P47) fibronectin-binding protein that was localized to the outer envelope based on susceptibility to proteinase K. The interaction of P47 with fibronectin was specific, and the region of fibronectin bound by P47 mapped to the gelatin/collagen binding domain. P47 was purified by affinity chromatography, digested with endoproteinase Lys-C, and the peptide fragments analysed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy. A search of protein databases disclosed that the P47 peptide mass profile matched that predicted for the bbk32 gene product of B. burgdorferi isolate B31. The bbk32 gene was cloned into Escherichia coli, and the ability of recombinant BBK32 to bind fibronectin and inhibit the attachment of B. burgdorferi was demonstrated. The identification of BBK32 as a receptor for fibronectin binding may enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and chronic nature of Lyme disease.     

Oral hygiene in relation to caries development and immigrant status in infants and toddlers

The purpose of this study was to describe oral hygiene factors in infants and toddlers living in Sweden with special reference to caries prevalence at 2 and 3 yr of age and to immigrant status. The study was designed as a prospective, longitudinal study starting with 671 children aged 1 yr. At 3 yr, all the children were invited to a further examination. A total of 298 children, randomly selected from the original group, were also examined at 2 yr. The accompanying parent was interviewed about the child's oral health habits. Children who were free of caries at 3 yr had had their teeth brushed more frequently at 1 and 2 yr of age, had used fluoride (F)-toothpaste more often at 2 yr of age, and had a lower prevalence of visible plaque at 1 and 2 yr of age than children with caries. Immigrant children had had their teeth brushed less frequently, had used less F-toothpaste, and had a higher prevalence of visible plaque at 1 yr of age than nonimmigrant children. Early establishment of good oral hygiene habits and regular use of F-toothpaste seem to be important for achieving good oral health in pre-schoolchildren.