Response of fibroblast cultures from ataxia-telangiectasia patients to oxidative stress.

The object of this study was to determine whether ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) cells are more sensitive than normal cells to reduced oxygen species generated either during normal cell processes or resulting from metabolism of xenoblotics. To test this hypothesis four AT and four normal fibroblast cultures were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the induction of micronucleated cells was assayed. AT cultures responded to the H2O2 treatment with a greater increase in micronucleus frequencies than that observed in normal cultures (P less than 0.01). At time course study showed that an elevation in micronucleus frequencies occurred earlier in AT cultures (significant increase by 1.5 h after treatment) than in normal cultures, possibly indicating a G2-phase sensitivity of AT cells to H2O2. The addition of an aqueous extract of areca nut to the cultures, as an example of exogenous stress, induced a greater frequency of micronucleated cells in AT cultures than in the normal cultures. These results suggest that the AT syndrome may serve as a model for investigating the role of reduced oxygen species in cancer.

Gastric emptying. A comparison of the Heineke-Mikulicz and Finney pyloroplasties with the Ramstedt pyloromyotomy.

Roentgenographic complete gastric emptying times using dilute barium were measured in 31 conditioned mongrel dogs (1) under normal or basal conditions, (2) after subdiaphragmatic complete truncal vagotomy, and (3) after four different methods of gastric drainage. The drainage procedures in 24 dogs were divided into four groups of six dogs each: (1) Heineke-Mikulicz two-layer (HM1) pyloroplasty; (3) Finney pyloroplasty (FP); and (4) the Ramstedt pyloromyotomy (RP). Using the same protocol for measuring complete gastric emptying, a fifth group of seven dogs underwent two gastric drainage procedures each: RP followed by subsequent conversion to the HM1. The statistical comparison to these procedures for adequacy of gastric drainage demonstrated no significant differences or superiority of any procedure in the groups of animals tested.

A biomechanical model of the lumbosacral joint during lifting activities.

A biomechanical model of the lumbosacral region was constructed for the purpose of systematically studying the combined stresses and strains on the local ligaments, muscles and disc tissue during sagittal plane two-handed lifting. The model was validated in two ways. The first validation was a comparison of experimental study results with model predictions. In general predictions compared very reasonably with observed values of several authors with the exception of strain predictions on the articular ligaments. Second, a sensitivity analysis was performed over a wide range of lifting tasks. The predicted stress/strain values followed anticipated patterns and were of reasonable magnitudes. On the basis of the results of the sensitivity analysis it was concluded that typical lifting tasks can lead to excessive disc compressive forces, muscle moment generation requirements, and possibly lumbodorsal fascia strains. Conversely, annulus rupture of a healthy disc due to overstrain appears very unlikely.

Estimation of glomerular size and number from radiographs of the kidney.

In 32 adult human kidneys obtained at necropsy, renal demensions, measured from radiographs, were correlated with the number and cross-sectional area of glomeruli, determined by point-counting and computerized image analysis. Cortical area, measured from post-mortem angiograms, was poorly correlated with glomerular area and was not significantly correlated with glomerular number per kidney. The area of the whole kidney was poorly correlated with the number of glomeruli per kidney and was not significantly correlated with glomerular area. However renal dimensions, particularly total renal area, were highly significantly correlated with the product of glomerular area and number. This may allow glomerular numbers to be estimated in life but will not assess loss of glon the ageing kidney, the number of glomeruli per unit volume increased.

A study of lumbosacral orientation under varied static loads.

This paper describes a study of lumbar and sacrum orientations in select standing postures with the patient holding different loads in the hands. Vertebral rotation data were gathered from two young, healthy men and two young, healthy women while they performed static lifts at two load levels and in postures ranging from erect standing to deep squatting. The results disclosed a predictable reorientation of the sacrum and lumbar spine for both men and women as a function of torso and knee angles. Nonlinear second-order regression models of torso angle and knee angle versus reorientation angle were fit to the data with resulting r2 values of about 0.89. Load was not found systematically to affect the sacrum/lumbar reorientation.

Complete hydatidiform mole with a coexistent healthy, viable fetus near term: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of a hydatidiform mole with a normal, live fetus at near term is a rare occurrence. Few cases have been reported. When a molar pregnancy is incurred, the patient is usually encouraged to terminate the pregnancy due to the possibility of developing persistent trophoblastic disease or choriocarcinoma. The low probability of carrying the fetus to term is often due to development of maternal symptoms, including preeclampsia and vaginal bleeding. CASE: At 36 weeks' gestation a woman gave birth to a live, healthy infant who was found to coexist with a complete hydatidiform mole. This report discusses the clinical presentation, ultrasound findings and follow-up recommendations for patients presenting with gestational trophoblastic disease. CONCLUSION: A complete mole can coexist with a normal, healthy fetus who can be carried to term, with a good outcome.

A biomechanical evaluation of five lifting techniques.

Five lifting methods which cover the range of techniques recommended by various back schools have been biomechanically analysed with a static sagittal-plane computer model. The analysis was performed with two load-types (compact and bulky) and three weights in the hands (44 N, 222 N and 400 N). The methods were compared in terms of predicted L5/S1 disc compression, low-back ligament strain and strength requirements at the shoulders, L5/S1, hip and knee joints. In general the method entailing a squat posture, straddle foot stance and flat back (oriented as when standing erect) yielded lower compressions, ligament strains and overall strength requirements than the other methods.

On the TRAIL to successful cancer therapy? Predicting and counteracting resistance against TRAIL-based therapeutics.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and agonistic antibodies against TRAIL death receptors (DR) kill tumor cells while causing virtually no damage to normal cells. Several novel drugs targeting TRAIL receptors are currently in clinical trials. However, TRAIL resistance is a common obstacle in TRAIL-based therapy and limits the efficiency of these drugs. In this review article we discuss different mechanisms of TRAIL resistance, and how they can be predicted and therapeutically circumvented. In addition, we provide a brief overview of all TRAIL-based clinical trials conducted so far. It is apparent that although the effects of TRAIL therapy are disappointingly modest overall, a small subset of patients responds very well to TRAIL. We argue that the true potential of targeting TRAIL DRs in cancer can only be reached when we find efficient ways to select for those patients that are most likely to benefit from the treatment. To achieve this, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that can help us predict TRAIL sensitivity.

Embryotoxic effects of pine needles and pine needle extracts.

A heat stable toxin present in needles of ponderosa pine was found to be soluble in methanol, ethanol, chloroform hexanes and 1-butanol. The embryotoxic effects of fresh green pine needles and a chloroform/methanol extract were determined by measuring embryo resorption in pregnant mice. Autoclaving the needles and extract for 1 hour prior to feeding enhanced the embryoresorptive effect by 28% and 32%, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the embryo resorptive dose (ERD50) of heat stable toxin for 1 mouse was 8.95 gms. for fresh green pine needles and 6.46 gms. for autoclaved green pine needles. In addition to embryocidal effects, feeding of the toxin resulted in significant weight loss in adult mice.

Right ventricular heart failure of Montana cattle.

Congestive right ventricular heart failure of Montana cattle is characterized clinically by an accumulation of edematous fluid in the brisket region and ventral portions of the body but not of the legs. A well developed jugular pulse is first observed followed by a watery diarrhea and usually by the accumulation of excessive fluid in the pleural and peritoneal cavities. As the case develops over a period of two to three weeks, the ventral edema becomes more marked (Fig. 1) and straw-colored fluid may accumulate in the body cavities until the abdomen is distended and breathing labored. Death may occur as a result of respiratory failure due to the large volume of pleural fluid or from general debilitation as a result of the right ventricular failure. The incidence of this type of heart failure in Montana cattle is highest on moist mountain valleys. Eighty-one of 113 cases observed over a seven year period occurred in cattle that were maintained at altitudes of 1525 m or below. This paper describes the conditions under which the disease occurs in Montana and compares the hemograms of clinically ill and healthy cattle.

Pine needle toxicity in pregnant mice.

Eight groups of pregnant mice were fed various preparations of ground pine needles or aqueous extracts thereof. An additional group was fed only Purina mouse cubes. Ground pine needles were more toxic to both adult mice and embryos than were the various water extracts. Reproductive failure occurred early in the gestational period. A water soluble and heat labile toxin suggestive of a mycotoxin was demonstrated in water extracts. Pine needle fiber contained a heat stable toxin which was insoluble in water. Evidence suggested the possible presence of a third toxin lethal for adult mice. Results suggested that the heat stable toxin is the one of greatest importance as a source of reproductive failure in mice. Toxins produced by fungi were considered to be of secondary importance.

Commercial availability of a house dust mite patch test.

The house dust mite long has been studied for its potential role in atopic dermatitis. Its part in the pathogenesis of asthma and allergic rhinitis has been studied and is accepted. Testing for the dust mite allergen in this arena is performed with radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) and prick testing. For several reasons, including the lack of a standardized testing tool, the difficulty in removing dust from the environment and the lack of association of dust and skin disease by patients, the role of the house dust mite in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and skin disease has been questioned. Chemotechnique Diagnostics (Malmo, Sweden) now provides a standardized dust mite allergen in petrolatum in 2 concentrations. Dermatophagoides mix is a 50:50 mix of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae at concentrations of 20% and 30%. The availability of a standardized patch test allergen for the house dust mite provides a better tool to investigate the role of this allergen as a contactant.

Longitudinal evaluation of condylar position in extraction and nonextraction treatment.

In 111 patients pretreatment and posttreatment condylar position was evaluated with corrected tomograms taken with the mandible in centric occlusion. Seventy-nine of the patients were treated by nonextraction procedures and 32 were treated by extraction procedures, 27 of the patients with the extraction of one or more premolars and 5 with the extraction of one or more anterior teeth. When the condylar positions before and after treatment were compared in the entire sample of 111 patients, in the nonextraction patients, in the extraction patients, and in extraction patients relative to nonextraction patients, no statistically significant differences were found. Thus condylar position was stable during treatment and did not behave differently under extraction and nonextraction conditions. On an individual basis, condylar retropositioning, as defined in this study, occurred in only nine of the 222 joints examined and was noted in patients treated both with and without extraction.

Prediction of overexertion injuries using biomechanical and psychophysical models.

This paper summarizes a three year epidemiological study conducted in five large industrial plants in order to evaluate the validity of two alternative modeling approaches to overexertion injury prediction. Detailed biomechanical and psychophysical job evaluations were performed for 55 industrial jobs comprised of 2934 potentially stressful manual materials handling tasks. The medical experiences of 6912 incumbent workers were monitored retrospectively for two years and prospectively for one year to establish a data base for comparison of the different models. The results show that each of the models can be used to predict both the incidence and severity of certain overexertion types of injuries such as contact, musculoskeletal and back injuries. The application of these models to identify or design administrative and engineering controls, however, may be limited as a result of the inherent correlation between the available indices and multifaceted jobs.

Sarcoidosis of the penis treated by radiotherapy.

A case of sarcoidosis of the penis is reported which initially caused ulceration around the external urethral meatus. After an immediate response to steroid therapy, the disease recurred locally in spite of continuing therapy and involved other parts of the penis. Partial amputation of the penis was performed but further ulceration occurred at the cut ends of the corpora cavernosa in the penile stump. This ulceration healed after radiotherapy.

Extra-urethral ectopic prostate.

Extra-urethral ectopic prostatic tissue is a distinct entity which has been identified in the bladder of seven patients and may be more common than previously thought. Such tissue probably derives from the subtrigonal glands of Lowsley.