Mesenteric vasculitis associated with Sézary syndrome

A 71 year old lady with Sézary syndrome presented with chronic diarrhoea and cramping abdominal pains. A small bowel meal x ray examination showed two mid-ileal strictures. At laparotomy the small intestine was found to be sub-acutely obstructed and resection of a 15 cm ileal stricture and stricturoplasty of a second, 10 cm stricture were performed. Histological examination of the stricture revealed a mesenteric vasculitis with secondary ischaemic changes in the small bowel wall. Mesenteric vasculitis causing small bowel stricture may be associated with Sézary syndrome.     

Possible role of glutathione in resistance to heavy metals and hydrogen peroxide in a radioresistant Chinese hamster V79 cell strain

To understand the cellular and biochemical nature of radioresistance in the strain M5 derived from Chinese hamster V79 cells, the sensitivity of the resistant cells towards CdCl2, Zn(Ac)2, and H2O2 by the colony forming ability has been tested. D0 values for these compounds in Chinese hamster V79 cells were 5.4 microM, 27.8 microM and 4.3 micrograms/ml respectively while for M5 cells these were 8.3 microM, 142.9 microM and 11.9 micrograms/ml respectively. The resistance to heavy metals as well as the oxidative damage could be reversed by the inhibition of glutathione synthesis by the drug buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). These set of data indicate that the cellular antioxidant glutathione plays an important role in the observed oxidant-resistant phenotype as well as heavy metal resistance in M5 cells.     

Actinomyces globispororoseus var. granaticus var. nov., a new producer of granaticins

Actinomycete LIA-0830 was most close by its morphological and cultural features tc Act. globispororoseus. Jet it differed from the latter in the physiological and antibioti properties. Actinomycete LIA-0830 differed from the known granaticin- and granaticin B-producing organisms by its morphological, cultural and physiological properties. On the basis of these data actinomycete LIA-0830 was classified as Actinomyces globispororoseus var. granaticus var. nov. The culture produced 2 antibiotics: granaticin and granaticin B.     

Effect of enteric oxygen therapy and vitamin E on the secretion and chemical composition of bile in experimental dystrophy

Effects of enteral oxygenotherapy and vitamin E were studied using rats with acute liver dystrophy caused by CCl4. The enteral oxygenotherapy with simultaneous administration of vitamin E were shown to accelerate the restoration of liver function, to improve the bile formation and secretion, to stimulate the synthesis of initial biliary acids as well as to increase the conjugation of the acids with glycine and taurine, to increase the stabilizing properties of bile.     

Restoration of tumor oxygenation after cytotoxic therapy by a perflubron emulsion/carbogen breathing

Thirty-six psychiatric patients with completed suicide, 162 with attempted suicide and 154 patients referred for suicidal behavior, four of whom died, were investigated and classified according to the ICD-10. Thirty-six patients with completed suicide among 9085 new psychiatric patients (1969-92) gave a suicide rate of 82.6/100 000 per year. Schizoaffective and depressive disorder in psychiatric patients with completed suicide and schizophrenia, depressive disorder and adjustment disorders in patients with attempted suicide were significantly more frequent than in 312 controls. Intrafamilial conflicts, divorce or loss of love and death or severe disease of family member were the most common precipitants. Loneliness from living alone in males, losing a spouse and intrafamilial conflicts within a large family of three generations in females were supposed to be risk factors. A high referral rate of 48% in attempted suicide indicated the important role of consultation-liaison psychiatry in emergency medicine.     

Primary angiosarcoma of the heart

Primary hemangioendotheliosarcoma is the least common form of sarcoma of the heart, itself an uncommon tumor. A review of most of the reported cases is presented. This study revealed that although the syndrome produced by cardiac sarcoma point to a strikingly characteristic picture, the diagnosis is almost always confused, especially with pericardial inflammatory diseases, and delayed. Successful treatment generally has not been available. This is the only case we know of that has been treated by resection utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. The appearance of metastases in unusual locations in our patient, despite total excision of the primary, suggests tumor embolization during the bypass and the need for intra-operative chemotherapy, as well as such treatment before or after surgery.