Self-selection of dietary protein and energy by broilers grown under a tropical climate: adaptation when exposed to choice feeding at different ages

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical findings of an autosomal dominant macular dystrophy in a family of Mayan Indian ancestry in Belize, Central America, and to determine its molecular genetic relationship with the original North Carolinian family. METHODS: We performed comprehensive ophthalmic examinations on 56 members of a single family living in Chicago, Illinois, and Belize, Central America. Fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were performed on 17 affected subjects and six affected family members were serially examined over a 12-year period. Blood was collected from 26 individuals, and DNA was extracted for genotyping. Two-point linkage, multipoint linkage, and haplotype analysis was performed. RESULTS: In 17 affected individuals, the clinical features were consistent with the diagnosis of North Carolina macular dystrophy. Multipoint linkage analysis generated a peak lod score of 5.6 in the MCDR1 region. The haplotype associated with the disease was, however, different from that of the original North Carolinian family. CONCLUSIONS: This family has an autosomal dominant macular dystrophy that is clinically indistinguishable from North Carolina macular dystrophy (MCDR1). Our findings indicate that the mutated gene in this Belizean family maps precisely to the same region as that of the North Carolina macular dystrophy (MCDR1) locus. This study provides evidence that MCDR1 occurs in various ethnic groups and that there is no evidence of genetic heterogeneity.     

Centrally infused galanin-(1-15) but not galanin-(1-29) reduces the baroreceptor reflex sensitivity in the rat

It has been demonstrated previously that central administration of the N-terminal galanin fragment (1-15) elicits hypertension and tachycardia and antagonizes the hypotensive effect of the parent molecule galanin-(1-29). In order to further clarify the role of galanin in central cardiovascular control, the possible modulation of the baroreceptor reflex by both galanin molecules has been studied. Different groups of rats were injected in the lateral ventricle with subthreshold doses of galanin-(1-15) (0.1 nmol/rat, or 0.3 nmol/rat), with subthreshold doses of galanin-(1-29) (0.1 nmol/rat, and 0.3 nmol/rat) or with an effective dose of galanin-(1-29) (3.0 nmol/rat). The baroreceptor reflex was elicited by intravenous injections of different doses of L-phenylephrine before and after the intraventricular administration of galanin peptides. The changes of the bradycardic responses after galanin peptide injections as well as the modifications of the baroreceptor reflex sensitivity were evaluated. Intraventricular injections of galanin-(1-15) significantly inhibited the reflex bradycardia elicited by intravenous L-phenylephrine and thus decreased the baroreceptor sensitivity. However, neither subthreshold doses of galanin-(1-29) nor its effective dose were able to modulate these cardiovascular responses. From these data it may be suggested that the galanin fragment (1-15) plays a more important role in central cardiovascular regulation than galanin-(1-29), possibly acting on a specific receptor subtype which exclusively recognizes N-terminal fragments of galanin, and exists on cardiovascular areas of the central nervous system.     

Rhinomanometry, sinus CT-scan and allergy testing in the diagnostic assessment of chronic nasal obstruction

In order to assess how effective a combination of diagnostic methods, each addressing specific aetiopathogenic aspects, would be in uncovering the cause of common chronic nasal obstruction, we evaluated 45 consecutive adult subjects. They were submitted to rhinomanometry testing, sinus CT-scans and RASTs to prevalent allergens. Most, but not all, patients ended up showing abnormal results in at least one of the diagnostic procedures. Sinus pathology was, by far, the most frequent diagnosis, while allergy took second place, with a number of atopic subjects displaying sinusitis as well. On the other hand, septal deviations with a significant effect on nasal resistance were only seldom found to be the cause of chronic nasal obstruction.     

Phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism in neonates receiving parenteral nutrition differing in pattern of amino acids

Tyrosine is considered to be an indispensable dietary amino acid in the neonate, yet achieving adequate parenteral tyrosine intake is difficult due to its poor solubility. Increasing the supply of phenylalanine is the most common means of compensating for low tyrosine levels. Unfortunately, plasma phenylalanine concentrations are sometimes elevated in infants receiving high phenylalanine intake. This led us to study the phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism in 16 neonates randomized to receive total parenteral nutrition with either a high or a moderate phenylalanine-containing amino acid solution. A primed, 24-h continuous stable isotope infusion of L-[1-13C]phenylalanine and L-[3,3-2H2]tyrosine was given to enable the measurement of phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics. Results demonstrated that 1) phenylalanine hydroxylation was significantly greater in infants receiving high phenylalanine, 2) phenylalanine oxidation and percent dose oxidized was also significantly greater in infants receiving high phenylalanine, 3) apparent phenylalanine retention was greater in neonates receiving high phenylalanine, and 4) alternate catabolites of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism were significantly greater in infants receiving high phenylalanine compared with moderate phenylalanine. We conclude that neonates respond to increased parenteral phenylalanine intake by increasing their hydroxylation and oxidation rates. The greater oxidation of phenylalanine in infants receiving high phenylalanine in conjunction with the urinary excretion of alternate catabolites of phenylalanine and tyrosine suggests that the high phenylalanine intake may be in excess of needs. However, the lower apparent phenylalanine retention observed in infants receiving moderate phenylalanine suggests that the total aromatic amino acid level of moderate phenylalanine may be deficient for neonatal needs.     

Tracking small-firm coverage, 1989-1996

The presence of host inflammatory cells inside the spiral canal of all viable Taenia solium cysts obtained from naturally infected pigs is described. Cells can penetrate into the vicinity of suckers and rostellum, although most appear damaged, suggesting that conditions in the canal are deleterious for them. These observations extend the localization of host inflammatory infiltrate to this intricate microniche, which may offer new approaches for the treatment of cysticercosis, based on a scolex-targeted action. The presence of host cells in the canal of cysts also poses the problem of the resulting contamination with host materials in studies using cysts extracts. As an example, host DNA contamination is readily detectable in genomic DNA isolated from T. solium and Taenia taeniaeformis cysts, as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction amplification and subsequent sequencing of a segment of the 18S ribosomal gene.     

Detection of free malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity before and after resection of colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: This study was designed to select the best monoclonal antibody to stain malignant cells in peritoneal wash fluid, and to investigate the incidence of free malignant cells in preresection and postresection colorectal cancer peritoneal washings using a combination of conventional cytology and immunocytochemistry. METHODS: Peritoneal washings were taken from 35 consecutive patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection. RESULTS: Malignant cells were isolated on a density gradient and identified by conventional cytology and an indirect immunoperoxidase stain. Malignant cells were identified in peritoneal washings from 15 patients (preresection only n = 3, postresection only n = 4, both n = 8). The origin of free malignant peritoneal cells in 11 preresection-positive washings must be the serosa. The origin of these cells in the four postresection-positive patients is uncertain: serosal and luminal spillage were considered unlikely and no circulating cells were found in the mesenteric vessels near the tumor. CONCLUSION: Tumor cells may have leaked out from lymphatics cut during the dissection.     

Incidence, timing, and causes of cerebral ischemia during carotid endarterectomy with regional anesthesia

PURPOSE: Controversy exists regarding the best technique to identify cerebral ischemia during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Regional anesthesia allows continuous evaluation of neurologic function and therefore can help determine the incidence, timing, and causes of cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The timing and clinical manifestations of any neurologic event during CEA and as long as 30 days afterward was determined by review of operative reports, hospital charts, and outpatient records of consecutive patients who underwent CEA under regional anesthesia over a 68-month period. RESULTS: Two hundred patients underwent CEA; indications were asymptomatic stenosis > 60% in 25%, transient ischemic attack with stenosis > 50% in 52%, and prior stroke with stenosis > 50% in 23%. Eight patients (4%) were converted to general anesthesia for non-ischemic reasons. Of the remaining 192 patients, 183 (95.5%) underwent the procedure with regional anesthesia and no shunt, 2% had cerebral ischemia and underwent shunt placement, and 2.5% had cerebral ischemia, were converted to general anesthesia, and underwent shunt placement. Cerebral ischemia developed in nine patients after carotid cross-clamping, manifested by loss of consciousness in four, confusion in two, dysarthria and confusion in one, and decreased contralateral motor strength in two. Immediate cerebral ischemia developed in four of the nine patients within 1 minute of cross-damping; all four underwent shunt placement. In five of the nine patients, cerebral ischemia occurred between 20 and 30 minutes after cross-clamping; all occurred during relative intraoperative hypotension (average reduction of 35 mm Hg in the systolic pressure). All awake patients in whom ischemic symptoms developed immediately regained and maintained normal neurologic function with shunt placement. Five of 26 patients (19%) with contralateral occlusion required a shunt; none had postoperative ischemia. The mean carotid cross-clamp time was 27 minutes. Postoperative (30 day) complications included a 0.5% stroke rate, a 0.5% rate of postoperative transient ischemic attack, a 0.5% rate of worsening of preexisting acute stroke, and a 0.5% rate of myocardial infarction (no deaths). Of the nine patients who had intraoperative ischemic changes, none had a postoperative neurologic deficit; the three patients who had postoperative neurologic changes had no intraoperative ischemic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: CEA with regional anesthesia allows continuous neurologic monitoring and can be performed safely even when contralateral occlusion coexists; intraoperative shunting for ischemia is necessary in 4.5% of all cases and in 19% of patients with contralateral occlusion. Intraoperative ischemia was flow-related in our patients; it occurred early from ipsilateral carotid clamping and late from reduced collateral flow as a result of hypotension. Monitoring should be continued throughout cross-clamping to identify late cerebral ischemia. Postoperative cerebral ischemia is not associated with intraoperative ischemia, if corrected.