Expression of smooth-muscle actin in cultured cells from human plasmacytoid myoepithelioma

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sclerotherapy (ST), widely used as treatment of bleeding esophageal varices, might cause motility disturbances of the esophagus as well as mucosal damage. We performed this study to evaluate the long-term effects of repeated sclerotherapy on esophageal motility and mucosa. METHODS: Ten patients with liver cirrhosis and bleeding esophageal varices treated with repeated ST were evaluated after the last ST, median 52 months, by esophageal manometry and gastroscopy where forceps biopsies were taken. RESULTS: We found a significant difference in the distal esophageal sphincter intraabdominal length. The distal esophageal sphincter pressure was somewhat lower in the ST group although the difference did not reach statistical significance. There was infiltration of neutrophil leukocytes in biopsies from four patients and normal findings in the rest. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up evaluation showed statistically longer distal esophageal intraabdominal length in the ST group. No mucosal alterations were found at the histopathological investigation.     

Relative occurrence of flow limitation and snoring during continuous positive airway pressure titration

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish between the existence of detached ciliary tufts (DCTs) and the possibility of protozoa in the sputum of asthma patients. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred six samples of sputum obtained from 97 patients hospitalized with either asthma or other respiratory diseases were examined blindly. The combination of such criteria as movement, absence of basal plate, existence of red granules, positivity for ultraviolet light and Heidenhain's iron hematoxylin stain (for protozoa) was employed to distinguish between DCTs and true protozoa. RESULTS: The presence of ameboflagellates in sputum has a diagnostic accuracy of 86% in predicting or ruling. out the possibility of acute asthma. CONCLUSION: The presence of ameboflagellate forms is closely related to the existence of bronchial asthma, and these result reflect some etiopathogenic significance in asthma.     

Antibodies to the HIV type 2 core protein p26 and Vpx: association with disease progression

A longitudinal cohort study was conducted to define the prevalence and temporal pattern of antibody response to the HIV-2 virion-associated proteins p26gag and Vpx. One hundred and forty-one asymptomatic HIV-2-infected women were enrolled, and followed for up to 11 years. Eighty-one percent of the subjects had antibodies to p26, and 51% to Vpx; response to these two antigens was not correlated. The response to both proteins was determined early in infection, and remained stable over time. The absence of antibodies to p26 was a highly significant predictor of CDC category IV HIV-related disease (p < 0.01) in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Antibody response to Vpx alone was not associated with disease progression. However, those individuals lacking anti-p26 antibodies, and with anti-Vpx antibodies, were six times more likely to be classified as CDC category IV by the end of the study (p < 0.01). This represents the first identification of virus-specific serological markers for HIV-2-related disease progression.     

Nickel subsulfide is genotoxic in vitro but shows no mutagenic potential in respiratory tract tissues of BigBlue rats and Muta Mouse mice in vivo after inhalation

The immunostimulatory capacity of Acanthospermum hispidum, a tropical plant which is used in the traditional medicine of Benin for the treatment of infectious diseases, was studied in the porcine immune system. These in vitro studies revealed the capacity of A. hispidum to enhance the proliferation of T lymphocytes after stimulation with ConA or allogeneic stimulator cells in the mixed leucocyte culture (MLC). The virus-specific MHC class II-restricted in vitro immune response against pseudorabies virus (PRV) was also enhanced in a co-stimulating manner. Phenotyping of T lymphocytes that had been activated in vitro in the presence of A. hispidum revealed an increase of activated gamma delta T lymphocytes with the phenotype CD2-CD5low+CD8-. In vitro analysis of the influence on the lymphocyte function demonstrated neither an increase of the immunoglobulin synthesis, nor of the interleukin-2 production, nor of the cytolytic activities. Experiments using separated T-lymphocyte subpopulations showed that the co-stimulatory activity was based on a synergism between T helper and gamma delta T lymphocytes, and that gamma delta T lymphocytes were the targets of the plant-derived extract. The gamma delta T cells which could not activated in mixed leukocyte cultures or with pseudorabies virus antigen in a secondary immune response, were reactive to the interleukin-2 released from antigen-stimulated T helper lymphocytes.     

Beta-lactamase inhibitors: agents to overcome bacterial resistance

Parental illness can have a profound impact on family relationships and children's behaviour. The amount and nature of communication between parents and children about the illness can play an important role, both positively and negatively, in mediating the outcomes. When children have a disability, families can be reluctant to communicate with them about family difficulties. They are often concerned about the impact that parental unavailability may have on their child's life. This paper reports on three families in which the mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and one child in the family had a disability. The extent and specific characteristics of their communication about the maternal illness with their children, behavioural changes in the children, explanations of communication strategies and attributions of behavioural changes are described. Family coping strategies are examined with reference to Lazarus's process model of stress and coping and the use of either problem-focused or emotion-focused strategies. Implications for possible clinical interventions are proposed. In particular it is suggested that families be offered consultation about: what children might understand; ways in which to communicate effectively; and strategies for coping with the long-term implications of serious parental illness.     

Relationship between lead mining and blood lead levels in children

The authors studied blood lead levels of 226 randomly selected children, aged 6-92 mo, who lived in either a lead-mining area or a nonmining area, and 69 controls. The authors sought to determine to what extent mining activities contributed to blood lead levels in the children. The mean blood lead levels in the study and control groups were 6.52 microg/dl and 3.43 microg/dl, respectively. The corresponding proportions of children with elevated blood lead levels were 17% and 3%. Soil and dust lead levels were up to 10 times higher in the study than the control group. Elevated blood lead levels appeared to result from exposure to both lead-mining waste and lead-based paint. Mining waste was the cause of the higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in these children.     

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland: a rare presentation in a young child

Although mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland neoplasm in childhood and adolescence, it is rarely found in children under the age of 10. A 6-year-old girl had an asymptomatic neck mass for 5 months. Clinical examination findings showed a 1.5-cm smooth and firm but mobile nontender mass located in the upper left anterior cervical triangle, clinically separate from the parotid gland. Ultrasound examination findings showed a vascular mass, with a cystic component, possibly within the tail of the parotid gland. An excisional biopsy was performed and frozen section showed a low-grade MEC. A left superficial parotidectomy was then performed. Final histopathologic examination showed one positive resection margin. Subsequently, reexcision of the surgical site and an upper modified neck dissection was undertaken. This unusual presentation of MEC as a neck mass in one of the youngest reported patients illustrates that the anatomic region for parotid tumors is large. Possibly some of these tumors may arise from heterotopic or accessory parotid tissue.     

Mucin and proteoglycan functions in embryo implantation

OBJECTIVES: To assess the in vitro adherence of Candida albicans to heat-cured hard and soft denture-base materials with varying surface roughness, and to observe the effect of a mixed salivary pellicle on candidal adhesion to these surfaces. METHODS: In vitro adhesion assays on heat-cured acrylic resin (Trevalon), Molloplast B and Novus using the type strain of C. albicans (NCPF 3153A). Surfaces for the assays were prepared using clinically appropriate rotary instruments. Unstimulated, pooled and clarified whole saliva was used to assess its effect on adhesion. RESULTS: Significantly greater adhesion of C. albicans to rough rather than smooth surfaces was found (P < 0.001), as well as increased adhesion to the machined soft lining materials compared with acrylic. Pre-coating denture-base materials with saliva reduced candidal adhesion on all materials. CONCLUSIONS: Rough surfaces on denture-base materials promote the adhesion of C. albicans in vitro. However, saliva reduces adhesion of C. albicans and thus diminishes the effect of surface roughness and free surface energy differences between materials.