Consequences of live poliovirus vaccine administration in chronic fatigue syndrome

The effect of live oral polio virus vaccination on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients was examined in a double-blind study. CFS patients were allocated randomly to placebo (N = 7) or vaccine (N = 7) conditions. All controls subjects received the vaccine (9). Vaccine administration was not associated with clinical exacerbation of CFS. However, objective responses to the vaccine revealed differences between patients and controls: increased poliovirus isolation, earlier peak proliferative responses, lower T-cell subsets on certain days post vaccination and a trend for reduced gamma-interferon in the CFS-vaccine group. Polio vaccination was not found to be clinically contraindicated in CFS patients, however, there was evidence of altered immune reactivity and virus clearance.     

Expression of an activated rasD gene changes cell fate decisions during Dictyostelium development

The authors describe iodinated contrast materials, which are commonly used in neuroradiological applications. The adverse reactions after their, administration are discussed. The indications for safer, non-ionic contrast media are presented. The protocol of prophylactic treatment of high risk patients is also formulated. We present the contrast material protocol used at our institution for neuroradiology.     

Experimental infection of nonhuman primates with sandfly fever virus

The methylotrophic yeasts Hansenula polymorpha, Pichia pastoris and Candida boidinii have been developed as production systems for recombinant proteins. The favourable and most advantageous characteristics of these species have resulted in an increasing number off biotechnological applications. As a consequence, these species--especially H. polymorpha and P. pastoris--are rapidly becoming the systems of choice for heterologous gene expression in yeast. Recent advances in the development of these yeasts as hosts for the production of heterologous proteins have provided a catalogue of new applications, methods and system components.     

CDS customers

Accident and Emergency Departments offer a unique opportunity for identifying and monitoring new drugs of misuse. This series of six case reports describes the potentially serious medical complications associated with the use of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) a new drug of misuse on the UK scene. Profound unconsciousness occurred in all cases and despite full (and often rapid) recovery all patients required medical intervention. Adverse effects occurred both when GHB was used alone or in combination with other illicit drugs and alcohol.     

Power spectral density of unevenly sampled data by least-square analysis: performance and application to heart rate signals

This work studies the frequency behavior of a least-square method to estimate the power spectral density of unevenly sampled signals. When the uneven sampling can be modeled as uniform sampling plus a stationary random deviation, this spectrum results in a periodic repetition of the original continuous time spectrum at the mean Nyquist frequency, with a low-pass effect affecting upper frequency bands that depends on the sampling dispersion. If the dispersion is small compared with the mean sampling period, the estimation at the base band is unbiased with practically no dispersion. When uneven sampling is modeled by a deterministic sinusoidal variation respect to the uniform sampling the obtained results are in agreement with those obtained for small random deviation. This approximation is usually well satisfied in signals like heart rate (HR) series. The theoretically predicted performance has been tested and corroborated with simulated and real HR signals. The Lomb method has been compared with the classical power spectral density (PSD) estimators that include resampling to get uniform sampling. We have found that the Lomb method avoids the major problem of classical methods: the low-pass effect of the resampling. Also only frequencies up to the mean Nyquist frequency should be considered (lower than 0.5 Hz if the HR is lower than 60 bpm). We conclude that for PSD estimation of unevenly sampled signals the Lomb method is more suitable than fast Fourier transform or autoregressive estimate with linear or cubic interpolation. In extreme situations (low-HR or high-frequency components) the Lomb estimate still introduces high-frequency contamination that suggest further studies of superior performance interpolators. In the case of HR signals we have also marked the convenience of selecting a stationary heart rate period to carry out a heart rate variability analysis.     

The effect of prophylactic fluconazole on the clinical spectrum of fungal diseases in bone marrow transplant recipients with special attention to hepatic candidiasis. An autopsy study of 355 patients

We reviewed 355 autopsies performed between 1990 and 1994 at a major marrow transplant center to determine whether fluconazole prophylaxis prevented visceral fungal infection. Fluconazole prophylaxis was defined by a minimum of 5 prophylactic doses. Fungal infection (any site) was found in 40% of patients transplanted and autopsied at the center. Overall, the proportion of autopsies with any fungal infection was not different for those patients receiving no fluconazole prophylaxis versus those with prophylactic fluconazole. With fluconazole prophylaxis, candidal infections were less frequent, decreasing from 27% to 8%, while Aspergillus infections were more frequent, increasing from 18% to 29%. No increase in deaths related to non-albicans Candida infections was seen. Of the 329 patients with livers examined, hepatic infection caused by Candida species was significantly less common in patients who had received fluconazole. Fungal liver infection was found in 31 patients (9%), 16% of those who were not treated with fluconazole and 3% of those who were treated with fluconazole. Since patients with candidal infections died earlier after marrow transplant than patients with mold infections, we speculate that a longer length of survival may dispose toward acquisition of mold infections. Fluconazole prophylaxis in this cohort of marrow transplant patients undergoing autopsy resulted in a significant reduction in infection caused by Candida species and an increase in mold infections.     

Biologic implications of genetic changes in head and neck squamous cell carcinogenesis

Cytogenetic techniques for the analysis of genetic changes common in head and neck squamous cell carcinogenesis show complex patterns of chromosomal deletions, translocations, and amplifications. Powerful molecular biologic techniques have recently made possible the investigation of these abnormalities at the DNA level. Tumour suppressor gene loss and oncogene activation can now be recognized in tumours. Multiple genetic loci are implicated in the carcinogenesis process, while much evidence points to the existence of yet to be recognized tumour suppressor genes. An overview of the genetic changes commonly seen in head and neck squamous cell carcinogenesis and the possible implications of these are presented.     

Clinical subtypes of bipolar mixed states: validating a broader European definition in 143 cases

Low-income women are among those at risk for delivering low-birth-weight babies (Lia-Hoagberg et al., 1990; Miller, Magolis, Schwethelm, & Smith, 1989; St. Clair, Smeriglio, Alexander, Connell, & Niebyl, 1990). These women tend to use prenatal care less often, perceive more barriers to care, have less positive reinforcement for receiving care, have less access to care, have lower education levels, maintain less healthy lifestyles, and have lower compliance with recommendations (Henderson, 1994; Koska, 1990; Lia-Hoagberg et al., 1990; Miller et al., 1989). This article will highlight three attributes of the problem of low-income women and prenatal care. First, low-income pregnant women are at risk for delivering low-birth-weight and preterm babies, which usually leads to expensive subsequent care. Second, an unhealthy maternal lifestyle increases the risk of delivering a low-birth-weight or preterm baby. Third, there are social, programming, and lifestyle barriers that low-income women face in receiving prenatal care. Finally, this article examines the use of the Health Belief Model as a theoretical basis for future prenatal care programming for low-income women.     

Errors enacted during endoscopic surgery--a human reliability analysis

PURPOSE: Current knowledge on central nervous system sarcoidosis. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Sarcoidosis is localized in the central nervous system in 5 to 16% of the cases. Various neurological manifestations are observed, including: seizures, cognitive or psychic manifestations, hypothalamic and pituitary involvement, local pseudotumors, and hydrocephalus very frequently associated with asymptomatic lymphocytic meningitis and with cranial nerve palsy, particularly palsy of the seventh nerve, occurring less regularly. CNS localization is most often an early manifestation of the disease, unmasking sarcoidosis. It is often part of primary or secondary systemic polyvisceral sarcoidosis. The diagnosis is mainly based on two arguments: confirmation of the existence of systemic sarcoidosis and clinical and paraclinical compatibility of neurological abnormalities (particularly at magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). Neurological histopathology is rarely necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Corticotherapy is indicated in all symptomatic cases and most often leads to a more or less complete clinical response evidenced by regression of active lesions identified on MRI. The treatment must often be prolonged for several years, and clinical and MRI evolution help guide therapeutical choices for dosages and threshold doses. CNS involvement is potentially severe with mortality and morbidity rates that are not insignificant. Limiting of iatrogenic risks requires adequate follow-up. PERSPECTIVES AND PROJECTS: Multicenter studies are necessary to determine factors influencing the incidence and long-term prognosis of CNS sarcoidosis treated with corticotherapy. The efficacy of treatments other than corticotherapy must be evaluated.