Index of suspicion. Case 2

Super-sidecut skis are wider at the tip and tail than a traditional ski, and the waist varies depending on the function of the ski. The sidecut influences the performance characteristics of the ski, making it easier to initiate a turn, carve tighter turns, and carve at slower speeds--which translates into more fun. Super-sidecut skis are more sensitive to controlling movements, so you can ski in a more balanced, centered position. There are some compromises in terms of stability and injury risk. With so much variety in super-sidecut skis, controlled population studies will be necessary to track injury trends.     

Nd:YAG laser removal of pupillary membranes developed after ECCE with PC-IOL implantation

PURPOSE: To define the frequency of development of pupillary membranes after ECCE with PC-IOL implantation, and to remove the pupillary membranes using the Nd:YAG laser. METHODS: From 400 patients who had undergone ECCE and were free from local or systemic illness affecting the blood-ocular barrier, 20 eyes developed pupillary membranes Nd:YAG laser was used to remove these pupillary membranes. RESULTS: The frequency of pupillary membranes was found to be 5% (9.8% in pex eyes and 3.3% to the non-pex eyes). Visual acuity improved in 17 eyes by 2 to 5 Snellen lines. No serious complications were observed, endothelium inclusive. CONCLUSION: Pseudoexfoliation might play a significant role in the development of postoperative pupillary membranes which could be successfully treated with the use of Nd:YAG laser. The safety of the procedure has to be evaluated in relation to the corneal endothelium damage in long-term.     

Safety of bacteria of the genus Bacillus, forming the base of some probiotics]

The study of the safety of bacillary strains forming the base of new probiotics (biosporin and subalin) was made. For control, the safety of Bacillus sp. IP5832 (the base of the preparation of bactisubtil) was studied. The results obtained in this investigation demonstrated that the strains contained in biosporin and subalin were safe when injected intravenously and intraperitoneally into animals in dose of 5 x 10(9) cells per 0.5 ml of physiological saline. The introduction of Bacillus sp. IP5832 in the same dose produced 100% lethal effect.     

Mechanisms of triplex-caused polymerization arrest

Pyrimidine/purine/purine triplexes are known to inhibit DNA polymerization. Here we have studied the mechanisms of this inhibition by comparing the efficiency of Vent DNA polymerase on triplex- and duplex-containing templates at different temperatures, Mg2+concentrations and time intervals with the thermal stability of the corresponding structures. Our results show that triplexes can only be by-passed at temperatures where thermal denaturation initiates, while duplexes, in contrast, are overcome at temperatures where they are quite stable. These results show that DNA polymerase cannot untangle triplex regions within DNA templates and seems to entirely depend on their thermal fluctuations. The high stability of triplexes at physiological temperatures and ambient conditions make them a barrier to polymerization.     

ISCOMs: an adjuvant with multiple functions

Glucagon causes transient hyperglycemia and persistent hypoaminoacidemia, but the mechanisms of this action are unclear. To address this question, the present study measured the effects of glucagon on glucose, leucine, phenylalanine, and glutamine kinetics. Seven healthy subjects each underwent three pancreatic clamp studies (octreotide 30 ng/kg/min, insulin 0.15 mU/kg/min, and glucagon 1.4 ng/kg/min) lasting 7 hours. During the last 3.5 hours of the studies, glucagon infusion was either unchanged (study 0) or increased to 4 and 7 ng/kg/min (studies 1 and 2). The higher glucagon infusion rates increased the glucagon concentration by 50% and 100%, respectively. [6,6-(2)H2]glucose, [2-(15)N]glutamine, 2H5-phenylalanine, and 2H3-leucine were infused to quantify the respective fluxes. Glucagon transiently increased glucose concentrations by stimulating glucose production, which peaked in 15 minutes to 3.82 +/- 0.36 and 4.21 +/- 0.33 mg/kg/min in studies 1 and 2 and then returned to the postabsorptive levels. Glucagon decreased the glutamine concentration (-10% +/- 2% and -22% +/- 2% in studies 1 and 2 v study 0, P < .05), because glutamine uptake became greater than glutamine release (balance from -1.9 +/- 0.9 in study 0 to -8.1 +/- 1.1 and -13.6 +/- 1.0 micromol/kg/h in studies 1 and 2, P < .01). Glucagon decreased the leucine concentration (-11% +/- 3% in study 2 v study 0, P < .02) and caused a small increment in proteolysis (+6% in study 2 v study 0, P < .01) that was related to the decrement in glutamine concentrations. Phenylalanine kinetics were not significantly affected. These results show that glucagon promotes the uptake of gluconeogenic substrates but does not increase their release, suggesting that glucagon-induced hyperglycemia is short-lived because glucagon fails to provide more fuel for gluconeogenesis. The small increase in proteolysis and the depletion of circulating glutamine prove that physiologic hyperglucagonemia can contribute to protein catabolism.