Expression of smooth-muscle actin in cultured cells from human plasmacytoid myoepithelioma

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sclerotherapy (ST), widely used as treatment of bleeding esophageal varices, might cause motility disturbances of the esophagus as well as mucosal damage. We performed this study to evaluate the long-term effects of repeated sclerotherapy on esophageal motility and mucosa. METHODS: Ten patients with liver cirrhosis and bleeding esophageal varices treated with repeated ST were evaluated after the last ST, median 52 months, by esophageal manometry and gastroscopy where forceps biopsies were taken. RESULTS: We found a significant difference in the distal esophageal sphincter intraabdominal length. The distal esophageal sphincter pressure was somewhat lower in the ST group although the difference did not reach statistical significance. There was infiltration of neutrophil leukocytes in biopsies from four patients and normal findings in the rest. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up evaluation showed statistically longer distal esophageal intraabdominal length in the ST group. No mucosal alterations were found at the histopathological investigation.     

Lactic Acid Concentration and Microbial Spoilage in Anaerobically and Aerobically Stored Ground Beef

Lactic acid concentration of coarsely ground beef, packaged in low oxygen permeability casings, is inversely related to sensory acceptability of the meat following regrinding and aerobic storage for six additional days. Samples, reground and stored aerobically after periods of anaerobic storage, were assayed for total aerobic bacterial counts, percentage of gram-positive microflora, and pH. Lactic acid concentration ranged from 130 to 1055 mg per 100g ground beef and increased with anaerobic storage. During 6 days of aerobic storage, both increases and decreases in concentration were noted and related to changes in microbial flora. A positive correlation was found between the proportion of gram-positive bacteria (lactic acid bacteria) and lactic acid and pH.     

Adverse consequences of prenatal illicit drug exposure

Our appreciation of the impact on health of illicit drug use is growing. Once considered a maternal risk, prenatal drug exposure may target fetal neurobehavior, affecting attention and learning as the child grows into adulthood. Cocaine, opiates, marijuana, and amphetamines have each been scrutinized for adverse actions on placental transport, fetal behavior states, newborn withdrawal, and childhood learning and attentive skills. Neurotransmitter analysis in the animal model after prenatal drug exposure now provides biological support for these clinical findings. The increasing prevalence of drug use by pregnant women, the effect of illicit drug use on transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus, and the maternal and fetal consequences of illicit drug exposure make illicit drug use in pregnancy a central challenge in maternal-fetal medicine and a need-to-know field in general obstetrics.