Repair of aortico-right ventricular tunnel

A short review of the literature on the optimum temperature for the growth of Mycobacterium leprae is followed by a report of an investigation into the correlation of oral surface temperatures with oral leprous lesions. It is concluded that the oral lesions of leprosy occur more frequently in areas of the mouth with a lower surface temperature.     

Genetic databases: online catalogues of inherited disorders

Current information on inherited disorders in domestic animals is available on the internet: Online Mendelian inheritance in animals (OMIA) and Mendelian inheritance in sheep (MIS) are the two major sources of information. OMIA was created (and is maintained) by workers at the University of Sydney. MIS has been compiled by the Committee on Genetic Nomenclature of Sheep and Goats (COGNOSAG), an international group of geneticists. In the future, similar catalogues for other species (starting with goats and cattle) will be made available by COGNOSAG. Electronic access to this information is freely accessible on the world-wide web at http:/(/)www.angis.su.oz.au/Databases/BIRX/om ia (for OMIA), http:/(/)probe.nalusda.gov:8300/animal/omia.h tml (for OMIA in the United States of America) and at http:/(/)www.angis.org.au/Databases/BIRX/mis (for MIS).     

Is fecundability associated with month of birth? An analysis of 19th and early 20th century family reconstitution data from The Netherlands

The relationship between fecundability and month of birth was investigated in a cohort of 1526 women who married between 1802 and 1929, using only women whose first marriage occurred before the age of 35 years. On the basis of their time to pregnancy (TTP, calculated as time between wedding and first birth minus gestational length), women were categorized into two groups: fecunds (TTP up to 12 months or prenuptial conceptions, n = 1348) and subfecunds (TTP >18 months, n = 118). By use of logistic regression, cosinor functions with a period of 1 year or 6 months and variable shift and amplitude were fitted through the monthly odds of subfecunds versus fecunds. The best fitting curve was unimodal, with a zenith in September (P = 0.13 for H0: no differences). Exclusion of childless women (n = 36, minimum follow-up 5 years) from the subfecunds led to a similar curve (P < 0.01), while childless women, as compared with fecunds, showed a birth distribution that was best represented with a bimodal curve with zeniths in January and July (P = 0.06). This study provides evidence for the existence of differences in fecundability by month of birth. The cause of this relationship is unclear, but may lie in a melatonin-dependent circannual variability of the quality of the oocyte.     

The incidence, morbidity, and mortality of surgical procedures after orthotopic heart transplantation

OBJECTIVE: The authors present their experience with patients having undergone orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in whom surgical conditions subsequently developed that required operative intervention. The incidence, morbidity, and mortality of these procedures are reported. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies have evaluated the management options of biliary tract disease after OHT. Multiple reports of patients having undergone OHT who subsequently underwent peripheral vascular reconstructions, plastic reconstructive, and thoracic procedures also have been published. METHODS: A chart review of 349 patients who underwent OHT between 1985 and 1996 was conducted to identify surgical procedures that were required in the post-transplant period. Their outcomes are reported. RESULTS: Of 349 patients who underwent OHT, conditions requiring 94 surgical procedures developed in 54 patients (15%). Biliary tract disease developed in 17 patients (5%) who required cholecystectomy, 2 of the 5 patients with acute cholecystitis died. Eight patients (2%) underwent orthopedic procedures with no operative mortality. Flap advancements for sternal wound infections were performed in five patients and four deaths occurred. Seventeen thoracic procedures were performed in 11 patients with an overall mortality of 45%. Twenty-one vascular procedures were performed on 17 patients with 1 delayed death due to a malignancy. Seven patients underwent procedures of the colon and rectum with no mortality. Seven patients underwent repair of inguinal or incisional hernias with no mortality. Various infections occurred with one resultant death after operative intervention. Six procedures were performed for diseases of the small intestine with no resultant mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Patients having undergone OHT and chronic immunosuppression are at increased risk of having complications develop from infection. Acute cholecystitis and sternal wound infection caused an inordinate risk of complications and death. Malignancies developed in four patients who required surgical intervention. A heightened awareness of coexisting peripheral vascular disease in patients transplanted for ischemic cardiomyopathy should exist. Close screening before surgery and surveillance after surgery to identify risk factors for infection and vascular disease and to screen for malignancies are essential.     

Trapped thrombus in a patent foramen ovale

A survey of the orthopaedic casualties evacuated (casevacs) to the Royal Hospital Haslar between November 1995 and April 1996 was performed. A total of 464 service persons and civilians were casevaced. Orthopaedic cases amounted to 55% of all evacuations. Of these, 54% were British Army personnel. Conditions necessitating casevac were classified as either acute, (occurring during the deployment), or chronic (where the condition was present prior to deployment). Of the acute cases, there was an even mix between bony and soft tissue injuries (STIs). Sporting activities were the commonest cause of injury. The condition had been present prior to deployment in 16% of cases. Half of these were considered to have been unfit for deployment. Strategies for prevention of unnecessary casevacs are discussed.     

Solution Enhancement and Post-enhancement Storage Effects on the Quality, Sensory, and Retail Display Characteristics of Beef Triceps Brachii Muscles

Beef triceps brachii muscles (6 d postmortem; n= 15; muscle sections n= 45) were sectioned into 3rds and allocated to 1 of 3 treatments. The treatments were untreated (CNT), or injected at a 12% pump rate with either tap water‐only (H₂O) or a solution comprising tetrasodium pyrophosphate and sodium chloride (TSPP/ NaCl) at 0.4% and 1.0% target final product weight concentrations, respectively. Each muscle (comprising all 3 treatments) was then allocated to 2, 14, or 28 d of vacuum‐packaged 1°C storage. Purge losses during storage were greatest (P < 0.05) for H₂O muscles and least (P < 0.05) for TSPP/NaCl muscles. Purge losses also increased (P < 0.05) from 2 d to 14 d of storage. Steaks enhanced with TSPP/NaCl had less (P < 0.05) free water and lower (P < 0.05) cooking losses than either CNT or H₂O steaks. Storage duration did not affect (P > 0.05) Warner‐Bratzler shear force (WBS) or sensory tenderness, but juiciness decreased (P < 0.05) with increased storage duration. While storage duration did not impact (P > 0.05) instrumental color characteristics, aerobic plate counts generally increased during storage. The TSPP/NaCl steaks had lower (P < 0.05) WBS values and improved (P < 0.05) sensory tenderness and juiciness characteristics compared with CNT or H₂O steaks. While CNT steaks had greater (P < 0.05) L* values (lightness) than TSPP/NaCl steaks, TSPP/NaCl steaks had similar (P > 0.05) oxymyoglobin proportions (630/580 nm) and a* values (redness) as CNT steaks. These results suggest enhancement with TSPP/NaCl can improve triceps brachii yield and palatability characteristics. Increased post‐enhancement storage did not impact or worsened palatability while increasing purge losses, suggesting general deleterious effects of increased postmortem storage for this muscle.     

Low molecular weight Cooperia oncophora antigens. Potential to discriminate between susceptible and resistant calves after infection

The recognition of low molecular weight proteins by sera obtained during a single oral (primary) infection with 100,000 3rd-stage Cooperia oncophora larvae was studied in calves. Three groups of 6 or 7 calves were selected based on different egg excretion patterns. SDS-gel electrophoresis of adult Cooperia antigen under reducing conditions, followed by Western blotting, revealed that resistance of individual calves to C. oncophora might be related with antibody responses (42 days post infection) against at least 2 protein fragments (14-16 kDa and 27 kDa). The 14-16-kDa protein complex was bound, to some extent, by individual sera from all calves. The intensity of staining was negatively correlated with egg excretion on Day 42 p.i. Calves with high egg counts on Day 21 p.i. either did not or only weakly recognized the 27-kDa band. It has to be established whether the 14-16 kDa (or recombinant 14.2 kDa) provides a tool for immunodiagnostics and whether the 27-kDa fragment can help further unravel immune-mediated resistance to Cooperia.