Comparative pharmacokinetics of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and its sulphate and glucuronide metabolites in desert camels and goats

Functional and aesthetic nasal surgery has been undergoing a process of fine-tuning. The surgical approaches lean toward greater conservation-particularly aesthetic- and functional selectivity. This has been made possible by improved diagnostic methods and pre-operative programming techniques such as computerized morphometry, computerized axial tomography, rhinosinus endoscopy, rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry and electromyography. Another important point in functional and aesthetic nasal surgery is that a) it can be divided into different techniques for each anatomo-functional sector considered and b) these can be used together in various combinations. Experience and the literature have underscored some issues which are most pertinent to the modern methodological viewpoint. The first large-scale controversy involves a comparison of open and closed techniques for access. The advantages and disadvantages of both techniques are described, although the disadvantages can be reduced to a minimum if the right indication is chosen. In the authors' opinion, the open technique should be reserved for general revision surgery, particularly in conjunction with difficult tips, labiopalatoschisis reconstruction, septal perforation and saddle nose. The second basic point involves how to deal with the perichondrium-periostium-mucosal flaps. The two main techniques for nasal skeletizing in rhinoseptoplasty include the extra-mucosal approach which is conservative and the trans-mucosal approach which is apparently more traumatic. Curiously, however, it is the latter technique which leads to fewer medium-long term complications. The nasal tip is the crux for the neophyte to rhinoseptoplasty. Through knowledge of the indications and the risks of the various techniques makes it possible to predict the result before-hand, although with certain margin of error. Indeed, this is one of the regions of the nose where errors reap the greatest damage. In this anatomical site, the use of conservative techniques is, therefore, strongly suggested. Finally, not only has research into the field of functional nasal surgery been unable to find concrete applications in humans (for obvious ethical reasons), it has likewise been unable to provide an answer to the question most rhinosurgeons pose: why do some patients still complain of difficulty breathing, even after successful surgery? It is our conviction that the problem is due to the fact that research into the endonasal receptors has not progressed.     

Measurement of cyclooxygenase inhibition in vivo: a study of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in sheep

The anti-inflammatory effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs phenylbutazone (PBZ) and flunixin meglumine (FM) and the relationship between the effects and drug concentration in vivo were studied using a subcutaneous tissue-cage model in sheep. Intracaveal injection of carrageenan induced prostaglandin (PG) E2 production in tissue-cage exudate (maximal concentration, 101 nM) with significant increases in white blood cell (WBC) numbers, skin temperature over the inflamed cage and exudate leukotriene B4 (LTB4) concentration (P < 0.05). Intravenous PBZ, 4.4 mg kg-1 produced mild inhibition of exudate PGE2 generation (10%), but greater inhibition of serum TXB2 (75.3%). The IC50 for TXB2 was 36.0 microM. Phenylbutazone did not alter effects on skin temperature, WBC numbers or exudate LTB4 concentrations. Intravenous FM, 1.1 mg kg-1, significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced exudate PGE2 formation (Emax, 100%, IC50, < 0.4 nM) and serum TXB2 generation (Emax, 100%, IC50, 17 nM) for up to 32 h. Flunixin meglumine significantly inhibited the rise in skin temperature but had a limited effect on exudate WBC. Phenylbutazone and FM have distinct effects on carrageenan-induced cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and platelet COX (COX-1). Flunixin meglumine was a more potent COX inhibitor than PBZ and was more selective for the inducible form of COX in vivo.     

Plasma metanephrines are markers of pheochromocytoma produced by catechol-O-methyltransferase within tumors

This study examined whether the high sensitivity of plasma free metanephrines for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma may result from production of free metanephrines within tumors. Presence in pheochromocytomas of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), the enzyme responsible for conversion of catecholamines to metanephrines, was confirmed by Western blot analysis, enzyme assay, and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis and enzyme assay indicated that membrane-bound and not soluble COMT was the predominant form of the enzyme in pheochromocytoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed colocalization of COMT in the same chromaffin cells where catecholamines are translocated into storage vesicles by the vesicular monoamine transporter. Levels of free metanephrines in pheochromocytoma over 10,000 times higher than plasma concentrations in the same patients before removal of tumors indicated production of metanephrines within tumors. Comparisons of the production of metanephrines in patients with pheochromocytoma with production from catecholamines released or infused into the circulation indicated that more than 93% of the consistently elevated levels of circulating free metanephrines in patients with pheochromocytoma are derived from metabolism before and not after release of catecholamines into the circulation. The data indicate that the elevated plasma levels of free metanephrines in patients with pheochromocytoma are derived from catecholamines produced and metabolized within tumors. Some tumors do not secrete catecholamines, but all appear to metabolize catecholamines to free metanephrines, thus explaining the better sensitivity of plasma free metanephrines over other tests for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.     

Effects of radiolysis on yttrium-90-labeled Lym-1 antibody preparations

An Australian field isolate of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), 89079/7NS, was exposed to the mutagen N-nitro-N'-methyl-N-nitrosoguanidine. Fifteen clones from the exposed culture were characterized for temperature sensitivity. Four clones labelled B, D, G, and H were temperature sensitive and were further characterized for their ability to colonize chickens and elicit an immune response. Serum antibody responses to MS were detected 3 wk after infection, by eyedrop, in 10 of 10 birds inoculated with 86079/7NS and clones B and G and in 9 of 10 birds inoculated with clone H. No MS antibody response was observed in any bird inoculated with clone D. MS was recovered from the upper trachea of 10 of 10 birds inoculated with clones B, G, and H at 2 wk after infection. No MS was isolated from birds inoculated with clone D. Clone H, designated MS-H, was selected as a potential vaccine candidate.     

Femoral hypoplasia-unusual facies syndrome with bifid hallux, absent tibia, and macrophallus: a report of a Bedouin baby

We report a case where Lactobacillus rhamnosus was isolated from pericardial effusion and blood in a child following a bone marrow transplant for aplastic anaemia. A resume of cases in which this organism has been implicated as a pathogen is also presented.