Potential adverse outcomes of psychotropic and narcotic drug use in Canadian seniors

Infants who ingest high amounts of fluoride can be at risk of dental fluorosis. The authors analyzed the fluoride concentration of 238 commercially available infant foods. Fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 8.38 micrograms of fluoride per gram, with the highest fluoride concentrations found in infant foods containing chicken. Infant foods, especially those containing chicken, should be considered when determining total fluoride intake.     

Human monocyte-derived macrophages express an approximately 120-kD Ox-LDL binding protein with strong identity to CD68

A protein that specifically binds oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) has recently been characterized in mouse peritoneal macrophages and identified as macrosialin, a protein with a molecular weight of 95 kD. First, the present work shows that human monocyte-derived macrophages express a membrane protein with a molecular weight of approximately 120 kD that selectively binds Ox-LDL. Second, we tested whether this approximately 120-kD Ox-LDL binding protein had any relation to CD68, the human homologue of macrosialin. The following evidence was obtained to support the role of CD68 as an Ox-LDL binding protein: (1) Ligand blots with Ox-LDL and Western blots with Ki-M6, an anti-human CD68 monoclonal antibody, revealed a single band with a molecular weight of approximately 120 kD under reducing and nonreducing condition. (2) The expression patterns of the approximately 120-kD Ox-LDL binding membrane protein and of CD68 paralleled each other during monocyte/macrophage differentiation. (3) Digestion with N-glycosidase F demonstrated that both CD68 and the Ox-LDL binding protein are glycoproteins; both showed a similar shift of approximately 18 kD in apparent molecular weight. (4) CD68, probed with monoclonal antibody Ki-M6, and the approximately 120-kD Ox-LDL binding protein were coprecipitated with EMB11, another anti-CD68 antibody. About 5000 molecules of CD68 are expressed on the cell surface of human macrophages. Ligation of 125I-Ki-M6 to cells leads to its internalization and degradation. This capacity would be sufficient to allow for the specific uptake and degradation of Ox-LDL. Taken together, these data support a role for CD68 as a specific Ox-LDL binding protein in human monocyte-derived macrophages.     

Pitfalls of processed pseudogenes in RT-PCR

The patient was a 72-year-old female who had Stage IVb advanced gastric cancer with Virchow's and paraaortic lymph node metastases. She was considered nonresectable and placed on neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of low-dose CDDP and 5-FU. After 1 course of administration, Virchow's metastasis disappeared, and the tumor was remarkably reduced in size. However, this chemotherapy was interrupted by toxicity of grade 3 appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, so that total gastrectomy and splenectomy were performed, which were non-curative operation because of paraaortic lymph node metastases. Histopathological examination of the section of the primary tumor revealed that cancer cells had almost disappeared, and only a few atypical cells remained in the granulation tissue. Eleven months after the surgery, there has been no progression of Virchow's and paraaortic lymph node metastases. Combination chemotherapy of low-dose CDDP and 5-FU appears useful as an inductive approach to advanced gastric cancer.     

Clinically significant hearing loss in renal allograft recipients treated with intravenous erythromycin

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is generally regarded as a rare side effect of erythromycin therapy. However, our own clinical experiences in erythromycin-treated patients led us to suspect that this complication may be more common among renal allograft recipients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of erythromycin-induced hearing loss among renal allograft recipients. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of renal transplant patients treated for pneumonia with intravenous erythromycin lactobionate. Patients were evaluated for the occurrence of clinically significant hearing loss (including onset, duration, and reversibility), other signs and symptoms of ototoxicity (vertigo and tinnitus), daily erythromycin dose and duration of treatment, concurrent ototoxic drug therapy, renal and hepatic function, and history of previous otic disease. RESULTS: Eleven (32%) of 34 courses of intravenous erythromycin therapy resulted in hearing loss. The incidence of hearing loss was 53% (eight of 15 courses) in patients treated with 4 g of erythromycin daily compared with 16% (three of 19 courses) among those receiving 2 g/d (P = .05). In addition, courses of erythromycin were longer in those suffering auditory toxicity (9.6 +/- 4.7 days) than in nontoxic patients (5.7 +/- 3.6 days) (P < .05). Hepatic and renal function did not differ between toxic and nontoxic patients. All episodes of erythromycin-induced hearing loss were reversible. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that clinically significant hearing loss occurs in more than 30% of renal allograft recipients treated for pneumonia with intravenous erythromycin lactobionate. Patients who require prolonged courses of erythromycin and those treated with 4 g/d are at particular risk for the development of auditory toxicity. With prompt recognition and modification of therapy, erythromycin-induced hearing loss appears to be completely reversible.     

Povidone iodine and skin disinfection before initiation of epidural anesthesia

OBJECTIVE: The clinical, mammographic and low grade cytologic features of mucinous carcinoma can make it difficult to diagnose by fine needle aspiration (FNA). Fine needle aspirates of mucinous carcinoma were reviewed with the mammographic findings to improve the diagnostic criteria and specificity for FNA. STUDY DESIGN: All aspirates were reviewed for cytologic criteria and cellularity, atypia and single epithelial cells (SEC). A nuclear grade was assigned to each aspirate. The mammographic findings were correlated with the FNA diagnoses. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with an aspirate and confirmed diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma were identified. The clinical impressions were: benign tissue (5), fibroadenoma (6) and cancer (32). The initial cytologic diagnoses were: adenocarcinoma (32), atypical/suspicious for cancer (11), insufficient (1) and negative (1). The cytologic findings showed smears with increased cellularity (35/45 cases) and minimal atypia. SEC with eccentrically located nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm were numerous. The assigned nuclear grade was as follows: grade 1, 16 cases; grade 2, 20 cases; and grade 3, 6 cases. Abundant mucin was present in Papanicolaou-stained slides in 23 cases; focal mucin was observed in 14 cases. The mammograms showed a smoothly outlined to lobulated mass with only slight irregularities identified. CONCLUSION: Mucinous carcinoma has a cytologic pattern that includes increased cellularity, with numerous single cells and abundant mucin. Although the mammographic findings may mimic a benign lesion, in the most patients a specific diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma can be made by FNA.     

Free electron laser experiment at Orsay: A review

In this paper we review the results obtained in the last two years with the Orsay free electron laser.