Craniofrontonasal dysplasia

The results of liver function tests and ultrasonographical findings were analysed in 7 dogs that were intravenously injected dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA 2 mg/kg body weight) on 2 consecutive days each week for 10 weeks. Typical clinical signs and similar changes in liver enzyme concentrations that develop in dogs with natural cirrhosis were observed in this canine model. Severe anaemia and a significant reduction in the platelet numbers occurred in the dogs that died in the 5th week, while in all the other dogs these parameters decreased slightly. Serum total protein and the albumin/globulin ratio decreased gradually while the alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activities increased significantly (p < 0.05) in all dogs after beginning the administration of DMNA. Ultrasound findings of a coarsened and heterogeneous echo pattern with increased echogenicity that are characteristic of canine cirrhosis were noticed at the same time when the changes in liver enzymes became evident. Present results suggest that ultrasonography in conjunction with liver function tests may be useful in the evaluation of experimentally induced liver cirrhosis.     

Does the use of antibiotics in animals affect human health?

This study examined the prevalence of bacteriuria in early postpartum period after term vaginal delivery in Trinidad, West Indies. Asymptomatic bacteriuria occurred in 58 (34.5%) of 168 patients tested. The prevalence of bacteriuria was significantly higher in non-catheterized patients than in catheterized patients and occurred more commonly in patients who were 20 to 29 years old and who were primigravida rather than multigravida. Forty-four patients had a history of urinary tract infection; 18 (40.9%) of these patients had positive urine cultures. Although 10 patients had a vaginal discharge in the late third trimester, none presented with postpartum bacteriuria. Because of the high prevalence of postpartum bacteriuria and the potential to progress to pyelonephritis and chronic renal disease, quantitative urine cultures for all postnatal patients and curative treatment for all positive cultures are recommend.     

Study of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin status to guide treatment of threatened preterm labour

Marj?lin Ulcer is a squamous cell carcinoma developed in a burn scar. The term was applied to all malignancies developed in scars or chronic draining sinuses, and its connotation with burn scars has been forgotten. It is an uncommon tumour in the developed world. The scars with iterative ulcerations are the ones that could be the origin of a carcinoma. As regards pathogenesis, it is attractive to speculate about the relation between wound healing and cutaneous malignancy since these processes share common tissue factors. The author presents his experience in the treatment of these tumours. Regarding prognosis and treatment, it is the author's opinion that carcinoma from scars are curable by adequate local excision, contrally to carcinoma of chronic sinuses, namely osteomyelitis, because cancer cells tend to follow the fistulous tract and multiply inside the bone cavity, generally only amputation is effective. Finally the author stresses that with good treatment vicious scars or draining sinuses could be prevented, therefore Marj?lin Ulcer is an entity that disappears with good health care.     

Neonatal appendectomy impairs mucosal immunity in rabbits

Between January 1988 and December 1991, 159 patients with Stage III/IV (M0) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were randomized to receive standard fraction RT (70 Gy) (group I) or the same RT plus either 6 mg/m2 of cisplatin (CDPP) (group II) or 25 mg/ m2 of carboplatin (CBDCA) both given daily during RT (group III). Patients in groups II and III had significantly higher overall response rates then those in group I (P = 0.011 and P = 0.0025, respectively) with no difference between groups II and III (P = 0.60). They also had significantly longer median survival time (MST) and higher 5-year survival rates than those in group I (MST, 32 months (32%) and 30 months (29%) versus 16 months (15%), respectively; P = 0.011 and P = 0.019, respectively), with no difference between the two RT/CHT groups. Median time to local recurrence (MTLR) and 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were significantly higher for both RT/CHT when compared to RT alone (MTLR, not attained yet and 30 months versus 10 months, respectively; 5-year LRFS, 51% and 48% versus 27%, respectively; P = 0.018 and P = 0.040, respectively) with no difference between the two RT/CHT groups. There was no difference between the three treatment groups regarding regional lymph node and distant metastasis control. Apart from acute high grade (> or =3) hematological toxicity that was significantly more frequent in the two RT/CHT groups and no different between the two RT/CHT groups, other acute high grade toxicity was similar between the three treatment groups. Late high grade toxicity was infrequent and similar between the three treatment groups.     

Glucocorticoid-induced formation of tight junctions in mouse mammary epithelial cells in vitro

Phenotypically stable cultures of untransformed mouse mammary epithelial cells (denoted 31EG4) were established and utilized to investigate the lactogenic hormone (glucocorticoids, insulin, and prolactin) regulation of tight junction formation. When 31EG4 cells were grown on permeable supports for 4 days in medium containing the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone and insulin, confluent cell monolayers obtained a transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) of 1000-3000 omega.cm2. In contrast, over the same time period, confluent monolayers treated with insulin or insulin and prolactin maintained a low TER (35-150 omega.cm2). Consistent with the formation of tight junctions, apical to basolateral paracellular permeability was decreased from 12% to 1% for [14C]mannitol and 3.3% to 0.3% for [3H]inulin when cells were cultured in dexamethasone. This effect of dexamethasone on TER required extracellular calcium, de novo protein synthesis, dose-dependently correlated with glucocorticoid receptor occupancy, and was not due to an increase in cell density. As shown by direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, dexamethasone treatment did not modulate the production or location of filamentous actin, the tight junction protein ZO-1, or the cell adhesion protein E-cadherin. Our results suggest that glucocorticoids play a fundamental role in the function and maintenance of cell-cell contact in the mammary epithelia by inducing the formation of tight junctions.     

Impact of natural infestation of Amblyomma variegatum on the liveweight gain of male Gudali cattle in Adamawa (Cameroon)

The effect of natural tick infestation on the liveweight gain (LWG) of male Gudali zebu cattle was studied throughout a year by comparing the performances of two herds, one of which was submitted to weekly acaricidal treatment and the other was left untreated against ticks. Six species of ticks were identified on the untreated animals: Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus lunulatus, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma nitidum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes. Most of the losses observed in the untreated herd during the rainy season were due to A. variegatum, and the loss in LWG was estimated to be 55-76 g per engorged female A. variegatum. The infestation also leads to wounds and to lesions of dermatophilosis. There was an interval between the peak infestation by A. variegatum and the appearance of weight loss owing to them. The control of ticks on the Gudali zebu in Adamawa, during the months of high infestation by A. variegatum adults, is economically profitable. On the other hand, the performances of the two herds during the dry season were similar, showing that infestation by larvae and nymphs of A. variegatum has no impact on the zebu LWG, and that tick control during that period is not profitable.     

Systemic liberation of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the perioperative phase of liver transplantation

We measured systemic serum levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) during the preoperative, anhepatic, and postreperfusional phases up to the 7th postoperative day in 60 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (LTx). In contrast to IL-1 beta, IL-1ra, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 showed a significant elevation in relation to the early phase after reperfusion, while TNF-alpha displayed a high grade of scatter. In addition, IL-1ra levels were significantly elevated during the anhepatic phase. Maximum serum levels were found at 15 min after reperfusion, 120 min after reperfusion, and on the 1st postoperative day, respectively. Serum levels decreased considerably at 24 h and 7 days after reperfusion. The comparative monitoring of systemic cytokine and cytokine antagonist levels, in particular the liberation of IL-1ra and IL-6 may provide useful parameters for the development of new liver preservation theories for LTx.