Familial adenomatous polyposis

BACKGROUND: Congenital lobar emphysema is an unusual condition and its pathogenesis remains unknown. The variety of findings in pathology studies of the resected specimens led to increasing academic interest. About 50 per cent of the cases have no definitive diagnosis in pathology. The most recent theory proposes an increased number of alveoli within each acinus (polyalveolar lobe). PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to report the morphometric measures of surgical specimens of 12 patients with congenital lobar emphysema, using the Emery and Mithal technique (radial alveolar count). METHODS: We made a case-control study, classifying the cases by age. Mann-Whitney's U test and linear regression techniques were used in data analysis: Mann-Whitney's U in comparing the cases and respective controls and linear regression to evaluate the influence of age in the measures found. RESULTS: The results revealed a significantly higher radial alveolar count than expected for the age group under 3 years; no difference was observed in the age group between 3 and 7 years and in children older than 7, the radial alveolar count was lower than expected. The normal development of the lung consists in an increasing number of alveoli increase from birth until adulthood, but this number remains constant, independent of age in congenital lobar emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: Such findings allow us to conclude that polyalveolar lobe can and must be diagnosed by a simple and practical method, such as the radial alveolar count, which decreases the incidence of the unknown etiology. The findings of an increased number of alveoli on patients younger than 3 is related to congenital lobar emphysema, since the number of alveoli does not increase in congenital lobar emphysema, just the opposite to what one would expect in the normal development of the lung.     

The current status of intraoperative radiotherapy in colorectal surgery

Colorectal cancer is the second most common malignancy in Singapore and its incidence is increasing. Results of surgery have been augmented in selected cases by the addition of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This standard approach only offers palliation in locally advanced and locally recurrent cancers. Newer modalities and combinations are currently being investigated to improve the results in this particular group of patients. One such modality is the use of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). This paper discusses the rationale for using IORT, the patient selection, method of delivery and treatment, tolerance and results in centers which have been using IORT as part of a multi-modality therapy for colorectal cancer.     

Physiological and subjective responses to thermal transients of exercising subjects dressed in cold-protective clothing

Intercellular adhesion molecules play an important role in the generation of T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses. Here, we describe a novel accessory molecule, DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1), that is constitutively expressed on the majority of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. DNAM-1 is a 65 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein consisting of 318 aa including two immunoglobulin-like domains. Anti-DNAM-1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) inhibits T and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against a variety of tumor cell targets and blocks cytokine production by alloantigen-specific T cells. In addition, DNAM-1 is a tyrosine-phosphorylated signal-transducing molecule that participates in primary adhesion during cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Retinoic acid increases hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity and mRNA in human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells

Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) plays an important role as the final enzyme in the synthesis of melatonin. Here we present the first evidence that retinoic acid (RA) stereoisomers are potent regulators of HIOMT in the human retinoblastoma-derived Y-79 cell line. Treatment with all-trans-, 13-cis-, and 9-cis-RA induced a gradual 10-fold increase in HIOMT activity and mRNA, without changing the levels of mRNA encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, actin, S-antigen, and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. These findings point to the possibility that RA may play a physiological role in the regulation of human HIOMT.     

Diabetes in urban African Americans. V. Use of discussion groups to identify barriers to dietary therapy among low-income individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The purpose of the present study is the presentation of the available literature on obesity in Greece. The heterogeneity of design, small sample size and limited number of studies conducted, complicates the delineation of definite trends. Nevertheless, the existing literature appears to point at a high prevalence of obesity among Greek children. Childhood obesity, may partly be accounted for by the over-protection and forced feeding by Greek parents. With regard to the incidence of obesity among Greek adolescents, studies have yielded controversial results. On the other hand, the existing evidence appears to indicate a high prevalence of obesity among Greek adults and the elderly, particularly those above 30 years of age. In contrast to the females, males appear to be characterised by central obesity. These observations highlight a need for primary prevention measures.     

Parallel dose-response studies of the voltage-dependent Na+ channel antagonist BW619C89, and the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel antagonist nimodipine, in rat transient focal cerebral ischaemia

We have compared two classes of putative neuroprotectants, the voltage-dependent Na+ channel antagonist BW619C87 [4-amino-2-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-5-(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl) pyrimidine], and the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel antagonist nimodipine, in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischaemia. BW619C87 (10-50 mg/kg) or nimodipine (10-100 microg/kg) were injected intravenously 5 min before induction of 2 h transient focal cerebral ischaemia via intraluminal thread occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. BW619C87 was a potent neuroprotectant over the range tested, maximally reducing the volume of hemispheric ischaemic damage by 51% at the 50 mg/kg dose. Nimodipine maximally reduced ischaemic damage by 33% at the 50 microg/kg dose, although the maximal level of neuroprotection afforded by BW619C89 and nimodipine was not significantly different. This is the first study to compare these two classes of drug directly in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion with reperfusion, and it supports the effectiveness of both as neuroprotectants.     

In vitro susceptibilities of Candida dubliniensis isolates tested against the new triazole and echinocandin antifungal agents

Candida dubliniensis is a newly recognized fungal pathogen causing mucosal disease in AIDS patients. Although preliminary studies indicate that most strains of C. dubliniensis are susceptible to established antifungal agents, fluconazole-resistant strains have been detected. Furthermore, fluconazole-resistant strains are easily derived in vitro, and these strains exhibit increased expression of multidrug resistance transporters, especially MDR1. Because of the potential for the development of resistant strains of C. dubliniensis, it is prudent to explore the in vitro activities of several of the newer triazole and echinocandin antifungals against isolates of C. dubliniensis. In this study we tested 71 isolates of C. dubliniensis against the triazoles BMS-207147, Sch 56592, and voriconazole and a representative of the echinocandin class of antifungal agents, MK-0991. We compared the activities of these agents with those of the established antifungal agents fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) by using National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards microdilution reference methods. Our findings indicate that the vast majority of clinical isolates of C. dubliniensis are highly susceptible to both new and established antifungal agents. Strains with decreased susceptibilities to fluconazole remained susceptible to the investigational agents as well as to amphotericin B and 5FC. The increased potencies of the new triazole and echinocandin antifungal agents may provide effective therapeutic options for the treatment of infections due to C. dubliniensis.