Dietary cholestyramine reduces ochratoxin A-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat by decreasing plasma levels and enhancing fecal excretion of the toxin

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that may contaminate animal feed (oat, barley, and rye) and food (wheat, rice, coffee, beer, pig meat), leading to major health problems (e.g., nephropathy) in several animal species including humans. Several methods have been tested to reduce the toxicity of OTA in animals but with limited success. In rats, the effect of cholestyramine (CHA), a bile acid-binding resin, was investigated on OTA-induced nephrotoxicity and bioavailability. Animals were fed semisynthetic diets containing two levels of OTA: 1 or 3 ppm. At each level of OTA, the diets were enriched with 0.1, 1, and 5% of CHA. The results showed that CHA decreased the concentration of OTA in plasma. At 1 and 3 ppm of OTA in the diet, CHA is effective at a level of 0.1% and 5%, respectively. The excretion of OTA and its metabolites (ochratoxin alpha and hydroxylated ochratoxin A) in bile and urine was also decreased by addition of 5% CHA in the diet. This was associated with an increase of OTA excretion in feces. Enzymuria and renal morphology revealed that dietary CHA can decrease OTA-induced nephrotoxicity, probably by reducing renal exposure to the toxin. In conclusion, CHA can reduce OTA concentrations in plasma as well as reducing nephrotoxicity, which may be attributed to a decrease of bioavailability and/or enterohepatic circulation of the toxin.     

Mammalian and Drosophila dachshund genes are related to the Ski proto-oncogene and are expressed in eye and limb

The human myeloid leukemias are a diverse group of disorders characterized by massive clonal expansion of myeloid cells showing variable degrees of differentiation block. Leukemic dendritic cells were generated in culture from chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). These were used to stimulate autologous T cells to develop leukemia-specific cytotoxicity. Available data suggest that the cells responsible for the cytolytic activity are at least in part CD8+ and HLA restricted in their function. Additional data suggest that some anti-CML cellular activity may be Fas mediated. T-cell receptor studies provide evidence for an oligoclonal response implying a recognition of a limited number of antigens. We have used culture techniques similar to those used for CML to study the ability of AML cells to differentiate toward dendritic cells. Four of five patients have shown acute leukemia-derived dendritic cells. This work offers an avenue for the development of novel strategies for the control of human myeloid leukemias.     

Day-case laparoscopic hernia repair

Some 114 patients (median age 52 years) underwent laparoscopic hernia repair as a day-case procedure. Twenty-one patients had bilateral and 11 recurrent hernias. Some 113 patients underwent transabdominal preperitoneal mesh repair but one required conversion to open operation. Mean operating time was 24 min for unilateral and 38 min for bilateral repair. In an operating session of 3.5 h, up to five patients (mean 4.4) underwent surgery and as many as seven hernias were repaired. More than 10 per cent of patients were found to have a previously undiagnosed hernia on the opposite side. A total of 111 patients were discharged home on the day of surgery. Major complications included one omental bleed and one small bowel obstruction. Seroma was the commonest minor complication and occurred in 7 per cent of patients. More than 35 per cent of patients needed no postoperative analgesia. To date there has been one recurrence (follow-up range 2-18 months).     

Pulmonary vein stenosis after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: This report describes the complication of pulmonary vein stenosis with resultant severe pulmonary hypertension that developed in 2 patients after successful catheter ablation of chronic atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three months after successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, both patients developed progressive dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension. Both were found to have severe stenosis of all 4 pulmonary veins near the junction with the left atrium. Balloon dilation of the stenotic pulmonary veins was performed in these patients, with improvement in dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The complication of pulmonary vein stenosis is potentially life-threatening, and the application of radiofrequency current within the pulmonary veins with standard catheter technology should be avoided. This complication can be treated with balloon dilation, although the long-term course is unknown.     

Pain syndrome in gastroenterological practice: potentialities of evaluation

Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of chronic pain syndrome and their possible use in assessing analgetic effects of treatment were studied in 16, 49, 26 and 17 patients with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, chronic pancreatitis, chronic colitis, respectively. Pain was measured with the use of McHill's questionnaire modification and visual-verbal-analog scale. In addition to routine analysis of the data from the respondents, graphic mean profiles of pain for each group have been devised. There were differences in quantitative parameters of pain syndrome depending on nosological unity and profiles of patients. The questionnaire proved rather informative in evaluation and gradation of analgetic effects of therapeutic factors in ulcer patients.     

A study of the protein composition of the zona pellucida of mammalian oocytes and zygotes by a method of microelectrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel

It is known that drugs are not unlimitedly stable. Dilutions of the antineoplastic agent daunoblastin used in the clinic and experimental work, were examined, whether they could be stored for several days. By means of impulscytophotometry, spectral-photometric measurements, counting of surviving cells and estimation of DNA-synthesis after culturing pieces of tissue in the presence of daunoblastin it could be established that this drug, diluted even four days ago, still possesses sufficient activity.     

Measurement of integrated sensory-motor function following brain damage by a computerized preview tracking task

A preview tracking task has been developed which has particular application to neurological assessment and rehabilitation. Generated and monitored by a graphic display computer, it permits accurate global quantification of the upper-limb sensory-motor system. The incorporation of 'preview' into the tracking task is considered to significantly increase its effectiveness and relevance in relation to normal daily activities. Applied to three groups of normal subjects, several features of normal psychomotor performance and learning were identified or verified: hand dominance is not significant in overall arm control; learning does not completely plateau; increase in age (15-59 years) results in only a minor overall decrement in performance; an initial wide performance distribution decreases dramatically in subsequent sessions. Applied to brain-damaged patients, particularly head injury or stroke, the preview tracking task allows assessment at regular intervals enabling sensory-motor recovery curves to be generated. The potential of this technique, to help determine the efficacy of therapeutic procedures on the recovery process, is illustrated with the presentation of results from three brain-damaged patients demonstrating zero, significant and disjointed recovery of sensory-motor function. The usefulness of the preview tracking task can be expanded by combination with a less frequently applied but more component specific neurological assessment battery.