New data on the etiological factors in acute pyelonephritis

Spectrum of microbe agents of acute pyelonephritis has been studied. It is shown that Mycoplasma hominis plays an important role in etiology of acute pyelonephritis besides the already known enterobacteria and Gram-positive cocci. It is also established that mycoplasmal pyelonephritis more often develops in patients with the diseases of urinary blade (cystitis) and genital organs. Results of serological investigations which confirm etiological role of isolated microorganisms in the initiation of acute pyelonephritis are presented.     

Functioning of the hypophyseal-adrenocortical system in rats selected for the sensitivity threshold to the electric current

Although behavioral and neuropsychological data regarding the existence of images for odors are inconclusive, reconsideration of earlier EEG work provides reasonably clear evidence for an inner nose. However, further EEG studies and neuroimaging data seem essential for conclusive demonstration of an inner nose.     

The effect of catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on coupled oxidative phosphorylation and the state of adenyl system in liver mitochondria of albino rats

Blepharoptosis is a recognized complication of cataract extraction and other ocular procedures. A 6-month waiting period is recommended before repairing postcataract ptosis because most cases resolve during this time. We report the course of a patient who developed spontaneous recovery of eyelid function 11 months after cataract surgery. She had previously undergone successful ptosis repair 8 months after cataract extraction, but developed overcorrection 3 months later as her levator function returned to normal. We recommend at least a 1-year waiting period before repair of postcataract ptosis. If corrective surgery is undertaken earlier than 1 year due to visual obstruction or for aesthetic reasons, we suggest two guidelines. The levator should be plicated rather than resected and patients should be forewarned of the possibility for a revisionary procedure if spontaneous return of levator function occurs.     

Alzheimer's peptides A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-28 inhibit the plasma cholesterol esterification rate

The amyloid fibrils of Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome amyloid deposits are composed mainly of aggregated amyloid beta protein (A beta) which also exists in a soluble form. It has been shown that both Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome share another common feature: the decrease in plasma cholesterol esterification in affected individuals. In the present work the effect of synthetic peptides A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-28 on normal human plasma cholesterol esterification rate was studied. Both peptides at a concentration of 1 ng/ml inhibited plasma cholesterol esterification rate to 40-50 % of control value. Statistical analysis showed no differences in the effect of A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-28 on the inhibition, suggesting the importance of A beta sequence 1-28 for this effect.     

Hemodynamic assessment in managing the critically ill: is physician confidence warranted?

Our current knowledge of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease is limited and primarily addresses early-onset disease. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease using a case-control approach. Ninety-eight cases and 216 controls were gathered from an ongoing population survey on aging and dementia in Stockholm (the Kungsholmen Project). We found a high relative risk (3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-5.7) with the presence of at least one first-degree relative affected by dementia. Among all the other risk factors, alcohol abuse (relative risk, 4.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-13.8) and manual work (relative risk for men of 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-25.5) emerged as positively associated. No clear association was found with a family history of Parkinson disease, advanced parental age at index delivery, season of birth, or previous head trauma. In conclusion, our data suggest that the main risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease is a family history of dementia, as has been previously reported for early-onset disease. Moreover, alcohol abuse and occupational exposure might play a specific role for this form of the disease.     

Reduction in postprandial lipemia after walking: influence of exercise intensity

Whole-body thermogenesis, substrate utilization (open-circuit ventilated-hood system), and exogenous carbohydrate oxidation were evaluated in 10 healthy lean male volunteers (aged 27.8 +/- 2.5 years) for 6 hours after oral ingestion of 75 g naturally enriched fructose, glucose (both derived from corn starch), cane sugar, and a good digestible corn starch (all mixed with 400 mL water). The integrated areas under the glucose and insulin response curves above baseline were highest with glucose and starch, intermediate with sucrose, and lowest with fructose, whereas there were no significant differences in the integrated nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) response between carbohydrates. The total increment in energy expenditure (EE) above baseline was similar with fructose (130 +/- 24 kJ/6 h) and sucrose (141 +/- 17 kJ/6 h), was higher with sucrose as compared with starch (108 +/- 24 kJ/6 h, P < .05) and glucose (94 +/- 20 kJ/6 h, P < .05), and tended to be higher with fructose as compared with glucose (P = .059). Both the increment in total carbohydrate oxidation (P < .05) and the increment in exogenous carbohydrate oxidation (P < .01) were significantly higher with fructose and sucrose compared with glucose and starch. The initial inhibition of lipid oxidation was higher with sucrose and fructose than with glucose and starch, whereas the integrated decrement in lipid oxidation over 6 hours was only higher with fructose compared with glucose and starch (P < .05). In conclusion, thermogenesis and substrate utilization vary considerably after ingestion of different types of carbohydrate in young lean males, indicating that the carbohydrate composition of the diet may have important consequences for energy and macronutrient balance.     

Perioperative ischaemia in aortic surgery: combined epidural/general anaesthesia and epidural analgesia vs general anaesthesia and i.v. analgesia

PURPOSE: The goal of this randomized study was to determine whether combined general and epidural anaesthesia with postoperative epidural analgesia, compared with general anaesthesia and postoperative intravenous analgesia, reduced the incidence of perioperative myocardial ischaemia in patients undergoing elective aortic surgery. METHOD: Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group (EPI, n = 48) received combined general and epidural anaesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia for 48 hrs. The other group (GA, n = 51) received general anaesthesia followed by postoperative intravenous analgesia. Anaesthetic goals were to maintain haemodynamic stability (+/- 20% of preoperative values), and a stroke volume > 1 ml.kg-1. A Holter monitor was attached to each patient the day before surgery. Leads 11, V2, and V5 were monitored. Myocardial ischaemia was defined as ST segment depression > 1 mm measured at 80 millisec beyond the J point or an elevation of 2 mm 60 millisec beyond the J point which lasted > 60 sec. An event that lasted > 60 sec but returned to the baseline for > 60 sec and then recurred, was counted as two separate events. The Holter tapes were reviewed by a cardiologist blind to the patient's group. RESULTS: There were no demographic differences between the two groups. Myocardial ischaemia was common; it occurred in 55% of patients. In hospital, preoperative ischaemia was uncommon (GA = 3, EPI = 8). Intraoperative ischaemia was common (GA = 18, EPI = 25). Mesenteric traction produced the largest number of ischaemic (GA = 11, EPI = 11) events. Postoperative ischaemia was most common on the day of surgery. Termination of epidural analgesia produced a burst of ischaemia (60 events in 9 patients). CONCLUSION: Combined general and epidural anaesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia do not reduce the incidence of myocardial ischaemia or morbidity compared with general anaesthesia and postoperative intravenous analgesia.     

Nerve growth factor in normal and psoriatic skin equivalent models

Our objective was to determine the pattern and time course of nerve growth factor expression in an established skin equivalent model that we have used in the past to study wound healing and psoriasis phenotypes. Skin equivalents were constructed in triplicate using normal neonatal foreskin keratinocytes plated on collagen gels containing fibroblast lines. These lines were derived from five specimens of psoriatic lesions, three specimens of normal skin from patients with psoriasis, and three specimens of eyelid skin from normal donors. Immunohistochemistry and a monoclonal nerve growth factor-b antibody were used to determine the pattern of protein staining over 2 weeks. We looked at the wound healing phenotype using the skin equivalent model for 7-14 days. When keratinocytes invaginate into the dermis of skin equivalents (beginning at around 7 days of growth), dark staining of nerve growth factor was seen under the basal membrane zone, suggesting that nerve growth factor serves in the development of the basal membrane zone and the epidermis, and may influence the migration of nerves through the basal membrane zone into the regenerated skin.