ABSTRACT
This study presents an attempt of predictive modelling of airborne particulate matter in underground railway stations. The aerosol is represented by a set of simple, ordinary differential equations that describe apparent emission of two particles size-classes in relation with train traffic, ventilation and deposition. The parameters of the equations are identified numerically by a genetic algorithm and comply with their respective expected order of magnitude. A quantitative comparison of numerical results with experimental data from Paris underground station exhibits a good accordance. A qualitative comparison with results from the literature also supports the model.
ABSTRACT
Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae is a major cause of secondary bacterial pneumonia during influenza epidemics. Neuraminidase (NA) is a virulence factor of both pneumococci and influenza viruses. Bacterial neuraminidases (NAs) are structurally related to viral NA and susceptible to oseltamivir, an inhibitor designed to target viral NA. This prompted us to evaluate the antipneumococcal potential of two NA inhibiting natural compounds, the diarylheptanoid katsumadain A and the isoprenylated flavone artocarpin. Chemiluminescence, fluorescence-, and hemagglutination-based enzyme assays were applied to determine the inhibitory efficiency (IC(50) value) of the tested compounds towards pneumococcal NAs. The mechanism of inhibition was studied via enzyme kinetics with recombinant NanA NA. Unlike oseltamivir, which competes with the natural substrate of NA, artocarpin exhibits a mixed-type inhibition with a Ki value of 9.70 µM. Remarkably, artocarpin was the only NA inhibitor (NAI) for which an inhibitory effect on pneumococcal growth (MIC: 0.99-5.75 µM) and biofilm formation (MBIC: 1.15-2.97 µM) was observable. In addition, we discovered that the bactericidal effect of artocarpin can reduce the viability of pneumococci by a factor of >1000, without obvious harm to lung epithelial cells. This renders artocarpin a promising natural product for further investigations.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Mannose-Binding Lectins/pharmacology , Neuraminidase/antagonists & inhibitors , Plant Lectins/pharmacology , Streptococcus pneumoniae/drug effects , Biofilms/drug effects , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Diarylheptanoids/pharmacology , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Epithelial Cells/physiology , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Kinetics , Mannose-Binding Lectins/toxicity , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Microbial Viability/drug effects , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Plant Lectins/toxicity , Streptococcus pneumoniae/growth & development , Streptococcus pneumoniae/physiologyABSTRACT
A 15-year-old girl who presented with signs of acute infectious gastroenteritis, just as two members of her family is described. As the patient did not improve, a sigmoidoscopy was performed and the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) was made. Our hypothesis is that an infection triggered the development of UC. Her paralytic ileus was probably triggered by the increased nitric oxide produced in the macrophages and smooth muscles of the inflamed bowel.
Subject(s)
Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis , Gastroenteritis/diagnosis , Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction/diagnosis , Adolescent , Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Gastrointestinal Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Infliximab , Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction/drug therapy , SigmoidoscopyABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Tem sido sugerido que pacientes com constipação sejam triados para doença celíaca. Da mesma forma, recomenda-se a investigação desses pacientes para hipotiroidismo e hipercalcemia. Contudo, nenhuma evidência para essas recomendações está disponível até o momento. Assim, propusemos-nos determinar a prevalência de doença celíaca, hipotiroidismo e hipercalcemia em crianças com constipação. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo com 370 pacientes consecutivos que preencheram os critérios de Roma III para constipação. Esses pacientes foram encaminhados por um clínico geral a um pediatra devido ao fracasso no tratamento com laxantes. RESULTADOS: A biópsia comprovou doença celíaca em sete desses pacientes. Isso é significativamente mais alto (p < 0,001) do que a prevalência de 1:198 de doença celíaca nos Países Baixos. Dois pacientes tinham tiroidite autoimune. Nenhum paciente tinha hipercalcemia. CONCLUSÕES: Conclui-se que a doença celíaca é significativamente super-representada em pacientes com constipação encaminhados por um clínico geral a um pediatra devido ao fracasso no tratamento com laxantes. Todos esses pacientes devem, portanto, ser triados para doença celíaca.
OBJECTIVE: It is suggested that patients with constipation should be screened for celiac disease. Similarly, it is recommended to investigate these patients for hypothyroidism and hypercalcemia. However, no evidence for these recommendations is available so far. We therefore set out to determine the prevalence of celiac disease, hypothyroidism, and hypercalcemia in children with constipation. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 370 consecutive patients who met the Rome III criteria for constipation. These patients were referred by a general practitioner to a pediatrician because of failure of laxative treatment. RESULTS: Seven of these patients had biopsy-proven celiac disease. This is significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the 1:198 prevalence of celiac disease in the Netherlands. Two patients had auto-immune thyroiditis. No patient had hypercalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that celiac disease is significantly overrepresented in patients with constipation who are referred by a general practitioner to a pediatrician because of failure of laxative treatment. All such patients should, therefore, be screened for celiac disease.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Celiac Disease/epidemiology , Constipation/epidemiology , Hypercalcemia/epidemiology , Hypothyroidism/epidemiology , Celiac Disease/complications , Celiac Disease/drug therapy , Constipation/complications , Laxatives/therapeutic use , Netherlands/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Referral and Consultation , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: It is suggested that patients with constipation should be screened for celiac disease. Similarly, it is recommended to investigate these patients for hypothyroidism and hypercalcemia. However, no evidence for these recommendations is available so far. We therefore set out to determine the prevalence of celiac disease, hypothyroidism, and hypercalcemia in children with constipation. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 370 consecutive patients who met the Rome III criteria for constipation. These patients were referred by a general practitioner to a pediatrician because of failure of laxative treatment. RESULTS: Seven of these patients had biopsy-proven celiac disease. This is significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the 1:198 prevalence of celiac disease in the Netherlands. Two patients had auto-immune thyroiditis. No patient had hypercalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that celiac disease is significantly overrepresented in patients with constipation who are referred by a general practitioner to a pediatrician because of failure of laxative treatment. All such patients should, therefore, be screened for celiac disease.
Subject(s)
Celiac Disease/epidemiology , Constipation/epidemiology , Hypercalcemia/epidemiology , Hypothyroidism/epidemiology , Celiac Disease/complications , Celiac Disease/drug therapy , Child, Preschool , Constipation/complications , Female , Humans , Infant , Laxatives/therapeutic use , Male , Netherlands/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Referral and Consultation , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) in children may be caused by entrapment of cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves (anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, or ACNES). Local injection of anesthetics may offer relief, but pain is persistent in some children. This study is the first to describe the results of a 'cutaneous neurectomy' in children with refractory ACNES. METHODS: Chronic abdominal pain children with suspected ACNES refractory to conservative treatment received a cutaneous neurectomy in a day care setting. They were interviewed postoperatively using an adapted quality of life questionnaire (testing quality of life in children). RESULTS: All subjects (n = 6; median age, 15 years; range, 9-16 years) were previously healthy school-aged children without prior illness or earlier surgery. Each presented with intense abdominal pain and a positive Carnett sign. Blood, urine tests, and abdominal ultrasound investigations were normal. Delay in seeing a physician was 16 weeks, and school absence was 25 days. Before surgery, quality of life (pain, daily activities, and sports) was greatly diminished. After the neurectomy, all children were free of pain and had resumed their normal daily routine (follow-up at 6 months). CONCLUSIONS: The role of the abdominal wall as the source of childhood CAP is underestimated. Some children with CAP have ACNES. Children with refractory ACNES should be offered a cutaneous neurectomy, as this simple technique is effective in the short and long term.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Muscles/innervation , Abdominal Pain/etiology , Nerve Compression Syndromes/complications , Neurosurgical Procedures/methods , Peripheral Nerves/surgery , Skin/innervation , Abdominal Pain/diagnosis , Abdominal Pain/surgery , Adolescent , Child , Chronic Disease , Humans , Nerve Compression Syndromes/diagnosis , Nerve Compression Syndromes/surgery , Pain Measurement , Quality of Life , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
In the present study we assessed the prevalence and nature of hearing loss in patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) or Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) due to single large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion or mtDNA tRNA (Leu (UUR)) A3243G point mutation (A3243G PM). 14 patients with mtDNA deletion and three patients with A3243G PM underwent audiological evaluation comprising pure-tone and speech audiometry as well as transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Audiological evaluation revealed hearing impairment in 10/17 patients. Hearing loss was mild to moderate predominantly affecting high frequencies in five patients with subjective hearing problems (three patients with mtDNA deletions, two patients with A3243G PM). Subclinical hearing deficits restricted to high frequencies were seen in further five asymptomatic patients (four patients with mtDNA deletions, one patients with A3243G PM). Audiological findings suggested a cochlear origin of hearing loss in all subjects. Our results demonstrate that CPEO or KSS patients due to mtDNA deletion or A3243G PM are at high risk of developing sensorineural hearing deficits.
Subject(s)
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/epidemiology , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/etiology , Kearns-Sayre Syndrome/complications , Ophthalmoplegia, Chronic Progressive External/complications , Adult , Audiometry, Pure-Tone , DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics , Evoked Potentials, Auditory , Female , Gene Deletion , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/physiopathology , Humans , Kearns-Sayre Syndrome/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Ophthalmoplegia, Chronic Progressive External/physiopathology , Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous/physiology , PrevalenceABSTRACT
A case of tick borne encephalitis (TBE) is reported, with simultaneous brain stem, spinal cord, and bilateral thalamic involvement confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After exposure to a TBE endemic region, the patient developed a biphasic clinical course with initial flu-like symptoms followed by a severe brain stem syndrome. The diagnosis of TBE was confirmed serologically. Repeated MRI scans showed brain stem, bithalamic, and spinal cord involvement. The outcome was favourable. TBE cases with concomitant myelitis tend to have a more severe clinical course and more likelihood of needing intensive care support. They should therefore be identified early in order to be prepared for life threatening respiratory complications.
Subject(s)
Brain Stem/pathology , Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/pathology , Myelitis/pathology , Thalamus/pathology , Adult , Humans , Male , Myelitis/virology , Severity of Illness IndexSubject(s)
Bone Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/secondary , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/secondary , Tibia , Aged , Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Merkel Cell/surgery , Diagnosis, Differential , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lymph Node Excision , Lymphatic Metastasis , Male , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Oropharynx/pathology , Time Factors , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
An experimental study investigated the influence of priming on helping behavior. A scrambled sentence test was used to prime groups with the concepts of altruism or egoism. In a third group a neutral concept was activated. The results indicated that there is no difference in helping behavior between the altruism and the neutral group. However, in the egoism priming condition participants showed higher latencies and helped less often than participants in both other conditions.
Subject(s)
Altruism , Defense Mechanisms , Helping Behavior , Set, Psychology , Social Behavior , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Reaction TimeABSTRACT
To assess dysphagia, the authors examined 12 patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) or chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) due to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion by videofluoroscopy and manometry. Cricopharyngeal achalasia was documented in nine of 12 patients (75%), whereas deglutitive coordination problems were found in one patient. Cricopharyngeal myotomy may be an effective treatment in selected cases with severe cricopharyngeal obstruction.
Subject(s)
Deglutition Disorders/genetics , Deglutition Disorders/physiopathology , Esophageal Achalasia/genetics , Esophageal Achalasia/physiopathology , Esophagus/physiopathology , Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/complications , Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/genetics , Pharyngeal Muscles/physiopathology , Adult , DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics , Deglutition Disorders/etiology , Esophagus/pathology , Female , Gene Deletion , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies/physiopathology , Pharyngeal Muscles/pathologyABSTRACT
In a survey of disease course, the efficacy and tolerability of 24-month interferon beta-1b therapy for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) were evaluated in 410 patients. The investigation aimed at obtaining data from general practice and of possibly unknown, unexpected adverse reactions. In the 241 patients still on therapy, efficacy was rated after 24 months as "good" or "very good" in 75% of cases. After 24 months, 36.9% of the patients had no exacerbation (baseline 0.3%). Annual exacerbation rates dropped from 1.5 before treatment to 0.7 in the second treatment year. In the 2 years before treatment, 66.2% had worsened by at least 0.5 points on the extended disability status scale (EDSS). This proportion was reduced to 41.2% after 2 years of treatment. The safety profile corresponded to results from controlled trials. This postmarketing survey supports data from the published controlled interferon beta-1b studies and confirms the main effects of this therapy under routine conditions in general practice.
Subject(s)
Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use , Interferon-beta/therapeutic use , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/drug therapy , Adjuvants, Immunologic/adverse effects , Adult , Disease Progression , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Germany , Humans , Interferon beta-1a , Interferon beta-1b , Interferon-beta/adverse effects , Male , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/physiopathology , Product Surveillance, Postmarketing , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We compared the sensitivity of single and triple dose Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting enhancing lesions in the spinal cord (SC) from 15 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The patients were examined monthly on four occasions. We detected two enhancing lesions in two of 15 (13%) patients when a single dose of Gd-DTPA was used. No additional lesions were detected when a triple dose of Gd-DTPA was used. These results 1) confirm that enhanced spinal cord imaging does not significantly increase the detection of active lesions in MS, 2) they do not support the general application of triple dose Gd-DTPA when examining the SC but 3) suggest that further studies taking into account SC symptoms are necessary.
Subject(s)
Contrast Media , Gadolinium DTPA , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Multiple Sclerosis/pathology , Spinal Cord Diseases/pathology , Adult , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Videofluoroscopy has gained high significance for the evaluation of deglutition disorders. Imaging alone cannot clarify whether the subjective symptom is represented morphologically or whether it is the substrate of a functional disorder. METHOD: The videofluoroscopies of 101 patients with dysphagia (n = 55) and globus pharyngitis (n = 46) were evaluated. Morphologic abnormalities were registered as well as sequential movement patterns. These data were compared with clinical and endoscopic findings. RESULTS: In 87% of the dysphagia and 74% of the globus patients videofluoroscopy revealed pathologic findings. Functional disorders were seen significantly more often than morphologic abnormalities. Highest incidence was found for cricopharyngeal dyskinesia (42%). Hypopharyngeal pouches and degeneration signs of the cervical spine with bolus impression less than 40% are common but functionally not important. Additional esophago-gastroduodenoscopy was pathological in 83% in the dysphagia group and 96% in the globus group. CONCLUSION: Videofluoroscopy is indispensable for the differential diagnosis of dysphagia and globus sensation, especially for the detection of functional disorders in the pharyngoesophageal segment thus documenting the dynamic aspect of deglutition. Videofluoroscopy should be completed by a gastroenterologic examination in order to improve diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Deglutition Disorders/diagnosis , Esophageal Diseases/diagnosis , Photofluorography , Video Recording , Adult , Aged , Deglutition Disorders/etiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Esophageal Diseases/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The influence of comorbidity on the healing process and the prognosis of patients with carcinoma of the head and neck region undergoing surgical treatment is not clear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study we examined the influence of coexistent diseases in 203 patients, hospitalized for curative surgical treatment. Findings on admission, supplemented by medical, anaesthesiological and neurological assessments, helped to form two subgroups: one of patients with minimal comorbidity (n = 135) and one with high comorbidity (n = 68). Subsequently the duration of hospitalization, incidence of complications, disease-free interval and survival was statistically compared. RESULTS: The duration of hospitalization, the incidence and degree of complications, the disease-free interval and the overall survival differed significantly, showing better results in the group with low comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Coexistent, mainly medical, diseases had a significant influence on the results of surgical treatment and prognosis of head and neck cancer.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/epidemiology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality , Comorbidity , Head and Neck Neoplasms/epidemiology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/mortality , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Laryngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Laryngeal Neoplasms/mortality , Laryngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/mortality , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Postoperative Complications , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The diagnosis of the rare disease Gliomatosis cerebri requires the correlation of clinical, radiological, and pathological findings. We report on two patients with intravitally diagnosed gliomatosis cerebri. Due to the unusually high malignancy of the tumor cells, diagnosis was complicated by atypical findings such as gadolinium enhancement in MRI and raised intracranial pressure. The clinical course, differential diagnosis, and literature are summarized briefly.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Brain/pathology , Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial/diagnosis , Biopsy , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Brain Neoplasms/physiopathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Epilepsy/etiology , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial/pathology , Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial/physiopathology , Stereotaxic TechniquesABSTRACT
Normal subjects use an open-loop motor control strategy in handwriting, but they are able to switch to closed-loop motor control when the demands on accuracy increase. These closed-loop handwriting movements of normal subjects resemble the inefficient movements found in writing-impaired patients. The hypothesis that such movement deficits may in fact reflect the use of a closed-loop strategy was tested in a group of writing-impaired patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The handwriting movements of 10 MS patients and 20 control subjects were examined with a digitizing tablet. Three conditions were used: a standard writing task (expt 1), a closed-loop condition (expt 2), and an open-loop condition (expt 3). Individual stroke movements were analysed. Stroke duration and segmentation were increased for MS patients in the standard writing task. The same was found for control subjects when they wrote under closed-loop conditions. However, under open-loop conditions, the handwriting movements of the MS patients were as fast and fluent as that of control subjects. The results support the hypothesis that the movement characteristics of the writing-impaired MS patients reflect an inadequate use of a closed-loop motor control strategy.