Renal length in sickle cell disease: observations from a cohort study

Renal length has been measured by ultrasound in 237 subjects with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, 147 with sickle cell-hemoglobin C (SC) disease, and in 78 age-matched controls with a normal hemoglobin (AA) genotype. As expected, renal length increased with age in all genotypes but mean length was significantly greater in SS disease compared with SC disease (mean difference 4.3 mm after adjustment for height) and significantly greater in both genotypes than in AA controls (SS/AA difference 9.2 mm, SC/AA difference 5.0 mm after adjustment for height). Examination of relationships between renal length and some hematological indices (hemoglobin, fetal hemoglobin, reticulocyte counts, alpha thalassemia status) in SS or SC disease showed only a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin and positive correlation with reticulocyte count in SS disease. Further analysis suggested that the stronger relationship was between renal length and high reticulocyte count. The mechanism of renal enlargement is unknown although glomerular hypertrophy and increased renal blood volume are likely contributors.     

Electron-beam CT scanning for detection of coronary calcification and prediction of coronary heart disease

Electron-beam or ultrafast computerized tomographic (CT) scanning provides a convenient and sensitive means of detecting coronary calcification, which is an early index of atherosclerosis. The procedure has strong negative predictive power for the presence of coronary artery disease, but a limited ability to predict disease severity. However, preliminary indications are that it is as good or better than conventional risk factors in this respect. Although further validation is needed before electron-beam CT can be regarded as an established method of detecting presymptomatic coronary atherosclerosis, the procedure has potential in this context.     

Copolymerization of bromophenylmaleimide with ethyl or butyl methacrylate

N‐p‐Bromophenylmaleimide (BrPMI) does not polymerize in solution by conventional free radical mechanism. However, it readily polymerized in bulk when mixed with a free radical initiator and heated in a microwave oven for 7–8 min. Copolymerization of ethyl methacrylate or butyl methacrylate with BrPMI was conducted in dioxane. The copolymers were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated by a non‐linear least‐square analysis. Thermal analysis indicated a great improvement in thermal stability of the copolymers compared with the methacrylate homopolymers. BrPMI was also polymerized in bulk in the DSC pan, which allowed the calculation of the activation energy of its polymerization. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insanity and adultery: forensic implications of a divorce case

Legal responsibility for acts presumes that a person's behavior is rationally intentional and under voluntary control. Automatism, a type of insanity defense, contends that the person's conscious, voluntary control of behavior has been impaired by a mental disorder. In a recent case in South Carolina, automatism was offered as a defense to adultery, an at-fault grounds to divorce. On appeal, the State Supreme Court recognized the novel application of mental impairment defenses in domestic litigation and remanded the case for rehearing. Implications of the ruling for clinical and forensic practice in family court are discussed.     

Subcutaneous zygomycosis due to Saksenaea vasiformis: rapid isolate identification using a modified sporulation technique

Saksenaea vasiformis, a zygomycete belonging to the order Mucorales, is a rare cause of zygomycosis with 17 cases documented world-wide. It usually infects the immunocompromised or traumatized and has a high mortality rate. Because of its failure to sporulate under normal laboratory conditions it may be difficult to identify. We describe here an unusual case report of Saksenaea vasiformis with sporulation and identification within a week using a modified sporulation technique.     

Prednisolone therapy of idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease: a double-blind clinical study

A double-blind clinical study was performed to evaluate prednisolone as treatment for idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease. No differences in response were observed in prednisolone- and placebo-treated cats.     

Role of cholesterol in regulating apolipoprotein B secretion by the liver

The review examines the evidence that the supply of cholesterol available for incorporation into nascent lipoprotein particles exerts a regulatory influence on apolipoprotein (apo) B secretion by the liver. Support for this hypothesis comes both from in vitro experiments and from recent observations in normal subjects and patients with dyslipidemia associated with familial hypercholesterolemia, obesity, noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus, growth hormone deficiency and cholesteryl ester storage disease. The findings do not negate a role for triglyceride synthesis in determining apoB secretion in very low density lipoprotein, but the inhibitory effects on the latter process of pharmacological blockade of cholesterol synthesis or esterification suggest that it is conditional upon an adequate supply of cholesteryl ester.