Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in children

The authors presented the cases of two children with inflammatory myofibroblastic (IMF) tumor and reviewed the literature to facilitate the preoperative recognition, delineate the clinical features, and describe the natural history of this entity. The first child had IMF tumor arising from the mesentery of the small intestine. He presented with an abdominal mass associated with severe inflammatory response manifested by fever, impaired growth, thrombocytosis, and microcytic, hypochromic anemia. After surgical resection, his fever resolved and his growth rate and the laboratory abnormalities normalized. Five months after initial diagnosis, the fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis recurred along with two tumors arising from the omentum and the abdominal soft tissue. After the second surgery, he remains free of recurrent disease for 30 months. The second child presented with a lung mass that was radiologically indistinguishable from pulmonary sequestration. After surgical resection, she remains free of recurrent disease for 18 months. IMF tumor should be considered in any solid tumor that occurs in association with a chronic inflammatory response. IMF tumor should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration.     

High-resolution HLA typing for the DQB1 gene by sequence-based typing

BACKGROUND: Monocytic tissue factor (TF), initiating the extrinsic blood coagulation pathway, is often upregulated under septic or inflammatory conditions. The complex activating mechanism remains largely unclear and no effective strategy has been firmly established. In this study, we used a model monocytic cell line (human leukemic THP-1 promonocytes) to address (1) the nature of TF activation in response to bacterial endotoxin and (2) the application of anti-inflammatory cytokines in relieving monocytic hypercoagulation. RESULTS: TF in THP-1 cells was substantially activated by exposure to bacterial endotoxin (LPS; 5 micrograms/ml) for 6 h. Human recombinant IL-4 (500 ng/ml) and IL-10 (500 ng/ml) inhibited TF activation induced by LPS. To determine if these cytokines depressed LPS recognition resulting in such inhibition, we employed an anti-CD14 mAb (UCHM-1; Sigma Chemical) to address the role of CD14 in LPS transmembrane signaling. LPS-induced TF activation was depressed by 35% upon inclusion of the anti-CD14 mAb (1:10 dilution). This antibody alone mimicked TF activation which accounted for 35% of the LPS-induced TF activation, suggesting the activating role of CD14 ligation. In addition, the anti-CD14 mAb elicited the production of nitric oxide (NO) which was found to be independent of TF activation. NO production could serve as an independent index for monitoring LPS recognition. IL-4 depressed the anti-CD14 mAb-induced TF activation as well as NO elicitation, indicating the blockade of CD14 ligation. In contrast, IL-10 showed differential inhibitory activities. TF activation induced by either LPS or anti-CD14 mAb was inhibited by IL-10 which did not show any inhibition on NO elicitation under these conditions. In a separate approach, neither IL-4 nor IL-10 inhibited phorbol ester-induced NO elicitation. More direct evidence came from an epifluorescent demonstration showing that IL-4 blocked binding of FITC-conjugated LPS and anti-CD14 mAb to THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results suggest that LPS action in relation to TF activation consists of CD14-independent and -dependent signaling including CD14 ligation. We also showed that anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and -10) significantly depressed TF activation. IL-4 antagonized CD14-dependent LPS recognition leading to the depression in TF activation.     

Examination of the relationship between African American adolescents' condom use at sexual onset and later sexual behavior: implications for condom distribution programs

School-based condom distribution programs have generated considerable controversy across the country. In the present study 249 sexually active African American adolescents who did (n = 119) and did not (n = 130) use a condom during their initial sexual experience were compared to assess whether condom use at the onset of sexual activity was associated with later differences in sexual behavior. The results indicated that youths who used a condom from the onset of sexual activity were more likely to have used a condom in the most recent intercourse occasion, less likely to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or to combine substance use with sexual activity, endorsed more positive attitudes toward condoms, and were older when they initiated sexual activity. The findings have implications for condom availability programs and indicate that initial condom use was not associated with earlier onset of sexual activity and was associated with higher rates of precautionary behavior among sexually active minority adolescents.     

Distribution of abnormal karyotypes among malformed fetuses detected by ultrasound throughout gestation

The participation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channels in the activation of Ca(2+)-sensitive K+ currents (IK(Ca)) by cyclic dibutyryl GMP was investigated in smooth muscle cells from the circular layer of guinea-pig gastric fundus. All experiments were performed in the presence of 3 microM nicardipine into the bath and low Ca2+ buffering capacity of the pipette-filling solution (pCa 7.4). Ruthenium red (10 microM) as well as its combination with 10 microM heparin abolished the cyclic GMP-induced activation of IK(Ca), while 10 microM heparin remained ineffective. Ryanodine (10 microM) and the subsequently added 1 microM thapsigargin induced a relatively small increase in IK(Ca) amplitudes. The addition of 10 microM ryanodine to 1 microM thapsigargin-containing bath solution caused a vast increase in IK(Ca). It is hypothesyzed that protein kinase G-induced vectorial Ca2+ flux from the cell bulk and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores toward the plasma membrane is realized by a spontaneous Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release from a superficially situated Ca2+ store.     

Use of a modified non-rebreathing mask during upper intestinal endoscopy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Recently, attention has been drawn to the significant occurrence of respiratory and other complications during upper intestinal endoscopy. This prospective study was designed to compare the incidence and severity of oxygen desaturation when two different methods of oxygen delivery were used during elective oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After local medical ethics committee approval and written informed consent, one hundred patients undergoing elective oesophagogastroduodenoscopy were randomly allocated to receive supplemental oxygen at either four litres per minute via nasal specular or ten litres per minute through a specially modified non-rebreathing mask. Oxygen saturations during endoscopy facilitated by midazolam sedation were recorded, and non-parametric tests were used to compare the oxygen saturations in the two groups. RESULTS: The mean oxygen saturations were significantly better during the procedure for American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade 2 and 3 patients who received oxygen with the modified mask than for those who received oxygen via nasal specular (98.6% vs. 97.0%, P = 0.004 for ASA grade 2 and 98.4% vs. 95.5, P = 0.006 for ASA grade 3). CONCLUSIONS: For ASA grade 2 and 3 patients, the modified non-rebreathing mask significantly improves oxygen saturations during upper intestinal endoscopy. This technique should be more widely used for patients at moderate and high risk.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of carminic acid, alpha- and beta-bixin, and alpha- and beta-norbixin, and the determination of carminic acid in foods

During a study of natural food colours, a simple and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography system was developed for use with cochineal and annato. An isocratic mobile phase, consisting of methanol and 6% aqueous acetic acid, resolved bixin and norbixin, while a gradient system was used to separate carminic acid and the annato compounds. The carminic acid contents of cochineal extract, carmine and carmine hydrosoluble were determined using an isocratic mobile phase (40:60, v/v). The detection limit for carminic acid in the various products was approximately 100 ng/g. Carminic acid was determined quantitatively in fruit beverages, yogurt and candies. It was demonstrated that, because of decomposition, carminic acid was not suitable for use in candies when manufacturing temperatures above 100 degrees C were required. Most membrane filters are not suitable for use with cochineal solutions, but a cellulose membrane filter did not adsorb carminic acid and was used successfully to remove impurities from water-based cochineal products and food extracts containing carminic acid.     

The limit of viability--neonatal outcome of infants born at 22 to 25 weeks' gestation

BACKGROUND: With improved survival of preterm infants, questions have been raised about the limit of viability. To provide better information and counseling for parents of infants about to be delivered after 22 to 25 weeks' gestation, we evaluated the mortality and neonatal morbidity of preterm infants born at these gestational ages. METHODS: We studied retrospectively all 142 infants born at 22 to 25 weeks' gestation (as judged by best obstetrical estimate) from May 1988 through September 1991 in a single hospital. Mortality in the first six months, including stillbirths, and neonatal morbidity (i.e., the presence of intracranial pathologic conditions, chronic lung disease, and retinopathy of prematurity) were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-six infants (39 percent) survived for six months. Survival improved with increasing gestational age; none of 29 infants born at 22 weeks' gestation survived, as compared with 6 of 40 (15 percent) born at 23 weeks, 19 of 34 (56 percent) born at 24 weeks, and 31 of 39 (79 percent) born at 25 weeks. There were seven stillbirths at 22 weeks' gestation and four stillbirths at 23 weeks. The more immature the infant, the higher the incidence of neonatal complications as determined by the number of days of mechanical ventilation, the length of the hospital stay, and the presence of retinopathy of prematurity, periventricular or intraventricular hemorrhage, or periventricular leukomalacia. Only 2 percent of infants born at 23 weeks' gestation survived without severe abnormalities on cranial ultrasonography, as compared with 21 percent of those born at 24 weeks and 69 percent of those born at 25 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that aggressive resuscitation of infants born at 25 weeks' gestation is indicated, but not of those born at 22 weeks. Whether the occasional child who is born at 23 or 24 weeks' gestation and does well justifies the considerable mortality and morbidity of the majority is a question that should be discussed by parents, health care providers, and society.