Positive influence of L-carnitine on the different muscle fibres types of racing pigeons.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Ca(2+) ATPase, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), are involved in energy metabolism. These enzymes can be used as indicators of the energy capacity of aerobic cells. The study investigated the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on M. pectoralis superficialis, M. pectoralis profundus, M. extensor carpi radialis muscle and M. flexor carpi ulnaris. Twenty-eight racing pigeons hatched at the same time were divided randomly into three groups. Eight pigeons, which were used as the control group, were sacrificed at 92-day old. The remaining twenty pigeons continued training until they reached 157-day old, with half the pigeons getting 25 mg/head/day of L-carnitine, while the other half given the same amount of water. The pigeons were assessed by histochemical methods and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess influence of L-carnitine on muscle fibre composition and the performance of three genes' mRNA, this study applied SDH localization, SDH, Ca(2+) ATPase and LDH mRNA expression to examine the results after oral administration of L-carnitine in vivo in racing pigeons. The results showed that L-carnitine significantly elevated the amount of white muscle fibre type IIa (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression quantities of SDH and LDH gene was higher via RT-PCR method. However, the expression of Ca(2+) ATPase remains similar. In conclusion, appropriate oral administration of L-carnitine of 25 mg/pigeon/day will result in an improvement of muscles related to flying.

Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine prophylaxis: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of acupuncture compared with topiramate treatment in chronic migraine (CM) prophylaxis. METHODS: A total of 66 consecutive and prospective CM patients were randomly divided into two treatment arms: 1) acupuncture group: acupuncture administered in 24 sessions over 12 weeks (n = 33); and 2) topiramate group: a 4-week titration, initiated at 25 mg/day and increased by 25 mg/day weekly to a maximum of 100 mg/day followed by an 8-week maintenance period (n = 33). RESULTS: A significantly larger decrease in the mean monthly number of moderate/severe headache days (primary end point) from 20.2 ± 1.5 days to 9.8 ± 2.8 days was observed in the acupuncture group compared with 19.8 ± 1.7 days to 12.0 ± 4.1 days in the topiramate group (p < .01) Significant differences favoring acupuncture were also observed for all secondary efficacy variables. These significant differences still existed when we focused on those patients who were overusing acute medication. Adverse events occurred in 6% of acupuncture group and 66% of topiramate group. CONCLUSION: We suggest that acupuncture could be considered a treatment option for CM patients willing to undergo this prophylactic treatment, even for those patients with medication overuse.

Recurrence of intussusception in childhood.

Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction between 3 months and 6 years of age. Recurrence after reduction of intussusception in childhood is not rare. To assess the incidence and determinants of recurrence of intussusception in childhood, we conducted a prospective observation in an emergency service of a large referral center during a four-year period. We encountered 89 cases with intussusception of whom nine cases (10.1%) had episodes of recurrent intussusception. Five patients had a single recurrence, three had double recurrence and one had triple recurrence. Age of first intussusception, sex, or concurrent adenovirus infection was not related to the recurrence. None of the 27 patients who needed operative reduction had recurrence, while 9 of 62 patients who were reduced successfully by barium enema developed recurrence (P = 0.05). Compared with the first episode, significantly less vomiting, rectal bleeding and shorter duration of abdominal pain or irritable crying were noted during recurrent episodes. All the recurrent episodes were reduced successfully by barium enema. We conclude that recurrent intussusception in childhood tends to be diagnosed earlier than previous episodes and treated successfully by hydrostatic reduction without complication. Surgical reduction of recurrent intussusception may be reserved for cases of failure of hydrostatic reduction, positive peritoneal sign or existence of pathological lead point because of favorable response to barium reduction. Recurrent intussusception seldom occurs in patients who underwent surgical reduction.

Sigmoid volvulus in children: report of two cases.

Volvulus of the sigmoid colon is rare in children. An early, accurate diagnosis can avoid unnecessary surgery and reduce the risk of complications. This condition is mainly due to a redundant sigmoid colon with a narrow mesosigmoid attachment. We describe two cases of sigmoid volvulus, which showed different clinical severities and were treated with different methods. Patient 1, a 9-year-old boy, presented with acute abdominal pain and vomiting. Patient 2, an 11-year-old boy, presented with abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and bloody mucoid stool. Plain abdominal radiographs revealed a distended colonic loop extending upward from the pelvis in patient 1 and a typical "coffee bean" sign in patient 2. Barium enema examination was used to confirm the diagnosis in both cases. The volvulus was reduced by insertion of a rectal tube in patient 1 and surgically in patient 2. Sigmoid colon volvulus should be included in the differential diagnosis of childhood abdominal pain or distention. This report suggests that nonsurgical reduction should be attempted first for uncompromised sigmoid volvulus in children, unless bowel ischemia or perforation develops.

"Hotness" stability of chicken hot-wing products as affected by preparation methods and storage.

Chicken hot-drumettes containing 2% cayenne pepper were prepared using three different cooking methods and stored under two different temperatures for "hotness" evaluation. Results demonstrated that the hotness of the samples were highest when products were cooked in a microwave oven, followed by convection oven, and least hot by deep-fat frying. Regardless of the cooking method, the degree of hotness of the hot-drumette decreased drastically during refrigerated storage. Results also indicated that the loss of hotness was associated with the increase of 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values in the product. The addition of antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), rosemary, and sodium nitrate during preparation or vacuum packaging retarded lipid oxidation of chicken hot-drumettes and retarded the loss of hotness of the products during refrigerated storage.

Home parenteral nutrition in children.

From 1985 to 1994, home parenteral nutrition (HPN) was used as the method of feeding nine pediatric patients. Indications for HPN included congenital or acquired short bowel syndrome. Crohn's disease, chronic intractable diarrhea, chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and Hirschsprung's disease. During the period, two patients died; one of sepsis and the other from hepatic failure. Three of the remaining patients have since moved on to oral feeding, but four patients continued on HPN. The majority of these patients have attained a normal weight and height for age while receiving HPN. All patients were fed via an implanted silicone catheter. Catheters were removed and replaced due to complications including nine episodes of infection, four episodes of occlusion, three episodes of breakage and two episodes of dislodgement. Catheter-related sepsis was the most common cause of morbidity and hospital readmission in patients receiving HPN, but was acceptably rare. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently cultured organism from either the catheter tip or the blood. HPN is a relatively safe feeding method for patients who would otherwise remain hospitalized for prolonged periods on parenteral nutrition for permanent or prolonged intestinal failure.

Hydrosonography in the evaluation of colorectal polyps.

Prewarmed saline enemas and transabdominal ultrasound (hydrosonography) were used to evaluate 17 consecutive children with rectal bleeding before colonoscopy. Twelve patients with polyps were identified (10 by ultrasound, 10 by endoscopy): these included multiple hyperplastic polyps (1), multiple polyps (1), solitary polyps (9), and pseudopolyps (1). Ultrasound identified 11 polyps in 10 patients, missing two patients with small polyps less than 0.5 cm in diameter. The polyps were hyperechoic ovoid masses fixed to the colonic wall, with a stalk (7), submucosal infolding (5), and intraluminal floating (5). There was one false positive. Colonoscopy was refused by one patient and failed to reach beyond the distal sigmoid in another following previous surgery for malrotation. Colonoscopy was superior in identifying finer mucosal detail (colitis, ulcers, proctitis, anal fissure) and in detecting smaller polyps (sessile polyps, hyperplastic polyps). Hydrosonography of the colon is a simple, relatively non-invasive procedure that provides an alternative, radiation-free examination of the whole colon before colonoscopy. It is complementary to colonoscopy in the management of rectal bleeding in children.

Absence of infection in breast-fed infants born to hepatitis C virus-infected mothers.

The role of breast-feeding in perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was explored in 15 HCV-infected mothers and their infants. The 15 carrier mothers had anti-HCV titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:40,000 and also had HCV-ribonucleic acid with concentrations ranging from 10(4) to 2.5 x 10(8) copies/ml. Both anti-HCV antibody and HCV-ribonucleic acid were present in colostral samples in much lower levels, but none of the 11 breast-fed infants had evidence of HCV infection for up to 1 year of age. Thus breast-feeding seems safe for these infants.

Hepatitis B virus in the colostra of HBeAg-positive carrier mothers.

To investigate the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in colostra of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive carrier mothers and the relationship of HBV amount between colostrum and maternal blood, 50 HBeAg-positive carrier mothers were recruited and studied for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titer, HBeAg titer, and HBV-DNA concentration in their sera and colostra. According to the presence or absence of seral HBV-DNA determined by dot hybridization, these 50 HBeAg-positive carrier mothers could be divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 28, HBV-DNA < 0.04 ng/ml), and group 2 (n = 22, HBV-DNA > or = 0.04 ng/ml). The colostral HBsAg and HBeAg titers were both significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. In addition, both colostral HBsAg and HBeAg titers had positive correlation with each corresponding maternal blood. Although the colostral HBV-DNA was undetectable by dot hybridization, all were positive by polymerase chain reaction with Southern blot hybridization. Because HBV-DNA can be detected in all HBeAg-positive carrier mother's milk, it reinforces the necessity of hepatitis B vaccination for the neonates born to these carrier mothers, particularly in countries with a high carrier rate.