Uterine contractility as a cause of amniotic band syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether puncturing the uterine wall and the amnion causes uterine contractions that result in fetal abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental study was performed using four groups of three female rabbits. Group A received a puncture of the amniotic membranes of one of the uteri on day 15 of gestation followed by group B on day 16, group C on day 17, and group D on day 18. The duration and force of contractions and fetal abnormalities were determined. RESULTS: There were immediate contractions after the puncture, which lasted 20 to 132 seconds with forces that ranged from 309 to 4,411 mg. All of the experimental fetuses exhibited anomalies of the head and extremities, exencephaly, cleft palates, and an absence of eye-lids. CONCLUSION: Injury to the uterine wall and the aniion can immediately cause uterine contractions, which are associated with different types of fetal abnormalities.

[Intima-media thickness in obese adolescents and their relation with metabolic syndrome]. / Grosor de la íntima-media de la arteria carótida en adolescentes obesos y su relación con el síndrome metabólico.

INTRODUCTION: Obese adolescents have higher cardiovascular risk (CVR). Intima-media thickness (IMT) detects early arterial vascular compromise. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether obese adolescents have higher vascular compromise measured by IMT than nonobese adolescents, and if this is greater in those with metabolic syndrome (MS). METHOD: The study group (SG), obese children (BMI/age > p95), with and without MS and control group (CG), non-obese (BMI/age p10-85) and non nutritional or endocrine disease. We measured serum lipids, oral glucose tolerance test with insulin and carotid artery ultrasound. To evaluate the differences between test groups we used parametric and nonparametric statistics. RESULTS: We evaluated 45 obese adolescents (20 women), 19 with MS, age 13 (9-16) years and 18 controls (14 women), aged 13 (11-16) years. IMT of carotid bulb and internal carotid artery (ICA) were significantly higher in SG than CG (0.54 vs. 0.34, 0.34 vs. 0.25, p < 0.05). There was no difference between obese groups. IMT of ICA and bulb correlated positively with BMIz (r = 0.3 and 0.6, p < 0.05) and with waist circumference (CC) (r = 0.3 and 0.55, p < 0, 05). IMT of ICA was positively correlated with fasting insulin, HOMA and systolic blood pressure. In multivariate analysis only BMI and CC were associated independently to IMT. CONCLUSION: Obesity is an early risk factor for cardiovascular damage measured by IMT and IMT of ICA demonstrated a higher correlation with cardiovascular risk factors.

Propolis from Chilean matorral hives.

Viscidone (0.5%), vanillin, 3',4'-(methylendioxy)acetophenone, 3-ethoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, cinnamic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymethyl ester were isolated from propolis of hives from Cuncumen. This is the first report on propolis composition of an arid and a Mediterranean type climate area.

Phenolic compounds of propolis from Central Chilean matorral.

Pinocembrin, acacetin, galanguin, izalpin, kaempferide, prenyletin and diarytheptane were isolated from propolis from Central Chile.

Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on strontium and barium bone content and fecal and urinary excretion.

Strontium metabolism has attracted considerable interest because of to its interaction with calcium, the bone alterations detected after treatment with strontium, and its potential value as a paleodietary indicator. The effects of ethanol on strontium and barium metabolism-another divalent cation which also accumulates in bone--is largely unknown. Based on this fact, we have determined bone content and fecal and urinary excretion of Ba and Sr in four groups of eight animals each pair-fed for 8 wk with (1) a nutritionally adequate diet, (2) a 36% (as energy) ethanol-containing isocaloric diet, (3) a 2% protein, isocaloric diet, and (4) a 36% ethanol, 2% protein isocaloric diet, following the Lieber-DeCarli model. Five additional rats were fed with the control diet ad libitum. We have found that ethanol tends to decrease and a low protein diet to increase bone strontium content; the decrease in bone strontium in the ethanol-fed rats is accompanied by an increase in the absolute excretion of strontium in urine. Ethanol also decreases bone barium content, but the effect of ethanol on urinary barium excretion is opposite that of strontium, a decrease. Thus, we conclude that ethanol alters both barium and strontium metabolism and bone deposition.

Bone lead in the prehistoric population of Gran Canaria.

The present study determined the lead concentration in bone tissue from 40 prehistoric individuals of Gran Canaria, and in a sample of 19 modern day residents of the Canary Islands. Higher bone lead values were observed in the modern sample (18.65 +/- 12.13 &mgr;g/g dry bone tissue) than in the ancient sample (4.41 +/- 3.45 &mgr;g/g dry bone tissue, P < 0.001). Older individuals showed higher bone lead values than younger individuals, but only in the modern group. The correlation between age and bone lead approached statistical significance (P = 0.058). Low bone lead observed in the prehistoric sample suggests a low lead exposure in prehispanic times in Gran Canaria. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:405-410, 1999. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Giant-cell tumor in soft parts in a patient with osseous Paget's disease: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration.

In this report, the cytological features and differential diagnosis of a case of giant-cell tumor (GCT) in soft tissues in a patient with osseous Paget's disease (PD) are described, with histological confirmation. Characteristic cytological findings include a diffuse cellular population of neoplastic cells composed of two types: one group of polygonal or round mononuclear small cells, exhibiting a thin-rim, dense cytoplasm and single hyperchromatic nuclei; and the second group of multinucleated, osteoclast-type giant cells with dozens of round nuclei, showing occasional micronucleoli. A prominent feature is the presence of numerous capillary structures surrounded by tumor cells. The differential diagnosis includes a number of other neoplastic and reactive processes in which giant cells may be abundant. The cytological features of GCT appear to be characteristic enough to allow a suggestive diagnosis. However, the final diagnosis should be made only after the lesion has been studied histologically.

Comparison of bone lead in pre-Hispanic, 18th century and modern population of Tenerife.

The present study has been performed in order to determine concentrations of lead in the bone of 14 individuals who were interred towards the beginning of the 18th century at the church 'La Concepción' (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) of 15 Pre-Hispanic individuals of Tenerife and a modern sample for Tenerife, composed of 25 individuals. We have observed higher bone lead values in the modern population than in the ancient one (P = 0.0022), although Pre-Hispanic individuals and those of the 18th century showed similar bone lead values.

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: Trisomy 12 Follow-up In Hairy Cell Leukemia.

Peripheral white blood cells from five patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) were studied applying fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using heparinized peripheral blood, biotin-labeled chromosome 12-specific α satellite DNA probe and biotin fluorescein-labeled avidin to detect hybridization. This methodology is ideal to investigate the incidence of numerical chromosomal abnormalities of both interphase and metaphase cells. Blood samples from 28 normal subjects were included as control samples. Trisomy 12 was considered to be present when ≥4% of cells had three hybridization spots. Trisomy 12 was detected in three of the five patients at different stages of their evolution. Trisomy 12 was also evident in two patients upon relapse of the HCL. When treatment with interferon alfa (IFN) and steroids was started, clinical and analytical remission were achieved and trisomy 12 disappeared. In one patient trisomy 12 persisted regardless of treatment with IFN and a good clinical evolution. Our results show that trisomy 12 was detected in HCL with FISH at a higher frequency than that previously reported by cytogenetic analysis in either peripheral blood or in cultivated cell lines. These results indicate that the presence of trisomy 12 may be a useful marker for the presence of HCL cells, to check the percentage of trisomic cells and that trisomy 12 is also a useful marker to indicate the activity of the disease.

[Nutritional status of school children from different socioeconomic levels]. / Estado nutricional en escolares de nivel socioeconómico opuesto.

The aim of this work was to compare the nutritional status of children from low and high socioeconomic levels. Weight, height, mid arm circumference and tricipital skinfold thickness were measured in 1,842 children of low and 2,770 of high socioeconomic status. Mean weight, height, and mid arm muscular circumference were higher in children of high socioeconomic status. Also, growth failure and overweight had a higher frequency among children of low socioeconomic status. Mean weight, height and mid arm circumference were higher in males of both groups. Among children of low socioeconomic status, height/age ratios were lower in men and weight/height ratios were higher in women. These differences were not observed in children of high socioeconomic level. We conclude that adverse environmental conditions, lower physical activity and indigenous ancestors may alter the nutritional status of children of low socioeconomic levels.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast. A case report.

A case of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising in the breast is presented. The diagnosis was established on a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy sample with histopathologic corroboration. The aspirate yielded a typical smear composed of round, multilayered clusters of uniform epithelial cells arranged around cores of homogeneous, acellular material. Both the conclusiveness of FNA biopsy in diagnosing this rare mammary neoplasm and its resulting in immediate treatment are stressed.

[Short rib-polydactyly (author's transl)]. / Síndrome costilla corta-polidactilia. Variedad Saldino-Noonan. Aportación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

A new case of short rib-polydoctyly, Saldino-Noonan type is described. The authors make a differential diagnosis between another forms of neonatal chondrodysplasias and point-out principal features of this entity.

[Cytology of urine in eosinophilic cystitis. Apropos of 19 cases]. / Estudio citológico de la orina en la cistitis eosinofila. A propósito de 19 casos.

A retrospective, cytological study has been carried out on the urine of 19 patients diagnosed by means of an endoscopic biopsy as suffering from eosinophilic cystitis. The authors have assessed the erythrocytes, the urothelial cells and the inflammatory ones, by means of a percentage count on 1,000 of the latter. In all the cases there was found to be a percentage rate of polynuclear neutrophils of more than 90% as well as the constant presence of eosinophils although in a very limited percentage and the conclusion is reached that it is impossible to diagnose eosinophil cystitis by means of the cytological study of the urine alone.