The standard biphasic-contrast gastric series

Biphasic gastric studies combining the advantages of both single- (positive) and double-contrast techniques performed under hypotony can now be accomplished as a routine procedure. In a series of 5,000 studies, the standardized method averaged only 15 minutes per patient.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protruberans: analysis of eight cases in an African population

Eight cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protruberans seen in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between 1960 and 1972 are reviewed. The condition is rare in this population and affects young adults of both sexes. All were treated by wide excision and skin grafting with no recurrence at follow-up. The apparently low incidence being reported may be due in part to the inconsistent histological pattern of the lesion. Clinicians are urged to be more aware of this condition when a cutaneous, nodular or multiobulated tumor is encountered.     

Genetic predisposition factors for multiple sclerosis (based on the data from genotyping patients of the Russian ethnic group)

Patients' genotyping of Russian ethnic group with multiple sclerosis (MS) was performed for the first time in two loci of the main complex of histocompatibility: in DR HLA class II (gene DRB1) and in the locus of tumor necrosis factors (TNF). There was no difference in the incidence of alleles groups which correlated with some specificity of DR. Meanwhile TNF-a1 and TNF-a9 alleles were encountered significantly more frequently in patients and TNF-a7 in control group. When all the patients and controls examined were divided into groups in dependence on combination of DR and TNF it was found that relations observed between MS and TNF-a7 and TNF-a9 alleles were displayed much more in individuals which carried alleles of gene DRB1, corresponding to DR15 specificity. These are alleles which are known as the main risk factor of MS in Caucasians. The patients with "protective" TNF-a7 allele were characterized by more favorable course of the disease. Thus highly significant genetic markers were revealed for the first time in region of TNF genes which were associated with increased or decreased risk of MS development at least in Russian ethnic group. There was also possibility of their interaction with group of DR15 alleles of DRB1 gene. One of the markers revealed (TNF-a7) occurred to be bound both with decreased risk of MS and with favorable clinical course, which was observed for genetic markers of MS for the first time. Manifestation of one or another property of TNF-a7 marker depends on the presence of alleles of DRB1 gene which corresponds to DR15 specificity.     

MRI findings in simultaneous bilateral meniscal lesions

This study investigates concurrent lesions of the knee that may be associated with bilateral simultaneous meniscal lesions. The MRI images of the knees of 22 patients with this condition were examined in detail. The results suggest a degenerative cause.     

Route of infection that induces a high intensity of gamma interferon-secreting T cells in the genital tract produces optimal protection against Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mice

The induction of local T helper type 1 (Th1)-mediated cellular immunity is crucial for resistance of mice to genital infection by the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. We tested the hypothesis that the route of immunization that elicits relatively high numbers of chlamydia-specific, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-secreting T lymphocytes (ISTLs) in the genital tract would induce optimal protective immunity against reinfection. Female BALB/c mice were infected intravaginally (i.v.), intranasally (i.n.), orally (p.o.), or subcutaneously (s.c.) with C. trachomatis. At days 7, 14, 21, and 28 postinfection, T cells isolated from the genital tract tissues were restimulated with chlamydial antigen in vitro, and the amounts of IFN-gamma induced were measured by a sandwiched enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. At day 7 postinfection, i.n.- and i.v.-immunized mice had high levels of chlamydia-specific ISTLs in their genital tracts (203.58 +/- 68.1 and 225.5 +/- 12.1 pg/ml, respectively). However, there were no detectable ISTLs in the genital tracts of p.o.- or s.c.-infected mice. When preinfected mice were challenged i.v. 70 days later, animals preexposed by the i.n. route were highly resistant to reinfection, with greatly reduced chlamydial burden, and suffered an attenuated infection that resolved by day 6 postchallenge. Animals preexposed by the i.v. route were modestly protected, whereas p.o. and s.c. groups were indistinguishable in this regard from control mice. The resistance of i.n.-immunized mice (and to some extent the i.v.-exposed mice) to reinfection was associated with early appearance (within 24 h) of high levels of genital ISTLs compared with mice preinfected by other routes. Furthermore, although i.n. and i.v.-immunized mice had comparable levels of chlamydia-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in their vaginal washes, the levels of IgG2a were four- sixfold higher in i.n.-immunized mice than in any of the other groups. The results suggested that immunization routes that foster rapid induction of vigorous genital mucosal cell-mediated immune (CMI) effectors (e.g., IFN-gamma), the CMI-associated humoral effector, IgG2a, and to some extent secretory IgA produce protective immunity against chlamydial genital infection. Therefore, i.n. immunization is a potential delivery route of choice in the development of a vaccine against Chlamydia.     

A study of the anaerobic bacterial flora of the female genital tract in health and disease

Semi-quantitative and qualitative bacterial assessment of the vaginal and cervical flora of a total of 202 women was carried out over a period of six months to determine the bacterial flora in three groups of women and changes caused by prior use of antibiotics. The number was made up of 32 healthy volunteers, 80 women with gynaecological problems and 90 women with gynaecological infections who had had antibiotic treatment prior to this study. Standard methods were used for the investigations. Five main genera of anaerobic bacteria were isolated from all patients. They included, the Bacteroides spp., Prevotella spp., Porphyromonas spp., Peptostreptococcus spp. and Clostridium spp. Five non-sporing gram negative anaerobic bacteria constituted the bulk of the flora including Prevotella bivia, P. disiens, P. melanogenica, P. asaccharolytica and B. fragilis. The predominant flora was P. bivia occurring in 61 pc of cervical swab specimens of the 80 women with proven gynaecological infections who had not used antibiotics and accounting for 27 pc of the total number of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria isolated. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most frequently encountered aerobic bacteria. The semi-quantitative counts of the different bacterial species in the patient group were significantly higher than in the control group of healthy individuals (p < 0,025). Similarly, prior antibiotic administration significantly reduced the population and quantitative count of the anaerobic bacteria.     

The contamination of the upper respiratory tract of children with representative opportunistic microflora

In this paper, findings are submitted from 11-yr bacteriological examination of children from the pre-school institutions in the city of Lviv. Stability was ascertained as was high level of nasopharyngeal carriage of the leading representatives of conditionally pathogenic microflora, an association was established to some disease forms. There is the need for the bacteria carriers to be identified in a purposeful and persevering fashion, with the relevant sanitary measures to be instituted in such individuals.     

Serious hand sepsis and diabetes mellitus: specific tropical syndrome with western counterparts

Infection in the extremities of diabetic patients most commonly involves the feet and, at least in western societies, is often associated with chronic complications of diabetes. Severe hand infection, often culminating in amputation and even death, is, however, well-described in tropical countries, where it may not be associated with any evidence of neuropathy or arterial insufficiency. Similar cases are described in the western literature but are more often associated with more severe antecedent trauma. The literature describing hand sepsis in diabetic patients both in tropical and in western practice is reviewed and we draw some conclusions about pathogenesis and treatment from the literature and from original data documenting the varying experience of hand sepsis in diabetic practice throughout Africa.     

Effect of tocopherol deficiency and additional administration of tocopherol, dibunol and disodium selenite on enzyme activity in rat liver, which take part in the biotransformation of nitrosodimethylamine

The alimentary tocopherol deficiency is accompanied by decreased hydroxylase, demethylase, NADH- and NADPH-reductase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, arylesterase and glutathione reductase activity in rat's liver. It decreased the reduced glutathione and increased it's oxidized form concentration in the tocopherol deficient animals. The stability of microsomal membrane is decreased to solubilizing action of deoxycholate and trypsin. This changes, possibly, caused elevation of alteration of function enzyme's and microsomal membrane after nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) administration in deficient rats. The 7-days injection of tocopherol (20 and 100 mg/kg), dibunol (80 mg/kg), sodium selenite (30 mkg/kg) increased aldehyde dehydrogenase, esterase, glutathione-dependent enzymes activity and increased of reduced glutathione concentration in liver, suppressed lipid peroxidation and increased survival rats after lethal dose carcinogen treatment. Supplementation of tocopherol decreased harmful action of nitrosodimethylamine on microsomal membrane and enzymes activity.