Origin of weak magnetism in compounds with cubic laves structure.

The origin of the weak itinerant magnetism in materials such as TiBe2 and ZrZn2 is investigated. The huge peak in the density of states at the Fermi energy is attributed to a special symmetry of the C15 structure: no crystal field splitting of the d levels occurs in the case of coordination by spherical ligands. Crystal field splitting is also investigated for the f orbitals in C15 structures such as PuZn2 and ThMg2. It is observed that the situation in f levels is more complicated than the d levels because the characteristics of the crystal field splitting for f levels does not only depend on the the local point symmetry of the compounds.

Effect of Lonicera japonica extract on Mycoplasma gallisepticum in naturally infected broiler flocks.

1. In this study, the effect of chlorogenic acid extract from Lonicera japonica Thunb. on Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections and the performance of broiler flocks was investigated. 2. A total of 360 Ross-308 broiler chicks taken from M. gallisepticum seropositive flocks were divided equally into three groups designated as control (nothing administered), antibiotic (Tylosin tartrate given for the first 3 d and d 20-22) and test group (chlorogenic acid extract given twice a day on d 16 and 22). 3. Broiler performance analysis, serological tests (slide agglutination), molecular identification (polymerase chain reaction) and histopathological examination were performed to detect M. gallisepticum. 4. The results show that chlorogenic acid not only increases live body weight but is also an alternative treatment option in M. gallisepticum-infected broiler flocks.

Cathelicidin and human ß-defensin 2 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37/hCAP-18 and human ß-defensins (hBD) are key factors in innate immune responses of the respiratory tract. OBJECTIVE: To determine LL-37 and hBD-2 concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of paediatric patients (aged <16 years) with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to compare these with concentrations in healthy children. METHODS: We measured peptide concentrations using an immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Forty TB patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study (mean age 9.2 ± 4.7 and 8.3 ± 4.2 years, respectively, P = 0.97). The two groups exhibited no statistically significant difference in terms of sex, body mass index, relative weight or 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The mean BAL LL-37 level of the TB group was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.95 ± standard deviation [SD] 1.33 vs. 0.35 ± SD 0.51 ng/ml, P = 0.01, t = 2.54). The hBD-2 level was also higher in the TB group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (0.30 ± SD 0.58 vs. 0.14 ± SD 0.30 ng/ml, P = 0.11). There was no correlation between LL-37, hBD-2 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that LL-37 and hBD-2 may play an important role in TB pathogenesis in children. To our knowledge, this is the first study on BAL LL-37 and hBD-2 concentrations in children with pulmonary TB.

Upper gastrointestinal system hemorrhage in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed to investigate demographic and clinical characteristics of the cases presented to the Emergency Department with an acute upper gastrointestinal system hemorrhage, and to identify the initial evaluation and treatments along with explaining possible causes of hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007. Characteristics of the patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, presenting symptoms, medical history, risk factors, coexisting symptom and diseases, results of the rectal examination and nasogastric evaluation, endoscopy findings, received treatments, duration of Emergency Department stay, admitting departments, and outcomes. RESULTS: 128 patients who presented to the Emergency Department during the study period were included in the study. As 27.3 % of the patients were female, 72.7 % were male. The mean age was 59.3 (+/- 16). 51.6 % of patients had a history of NSAID and aspirin use. Endoscopy was performed in 111 (86.7 %) patients. The most common finding among endoscopy results was gastric ulcer with a rate of 20.4 % followed by duodenal ulcer in 18.3 %. The mean hospitalization period in the Emergency Department was found to be 18 hours. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhages are first evaluated and treated in Emergency Departments. Endoscopy was carried out on most of the patients during the monitoring in the Emergency Department. NSAIDs and aspirin are still the most important risk factors and peptic ulcer is the most frequently encountered underlying cause (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 27). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.

Endoscopic Removal of an Unusual Foreign Body Causing Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Foreign body ingestion is a condition more common in the pediatric population than in adults. In adults, although foreign body ingestion can be well tolerated, approximately 10-20% of patients require endoscopic intervention. Delayed diagnosis and unremoved foreign bodies can cause serious and fatal complications including perforation, fistula and gastrointestinal bleeding. Here we report a patient with bleeding duodenal ulcer thought to be initiated by a large foreign body.

Does Ramadan fasting increase acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage?

The epidemiological characteristics and clinical results of patients who presented with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (AUGIH) during the month of Ramadan (October 2007) were compared with those who presented with AUGIH during another, non-Ramadan, month (December 2007). The following were evaluated: age, gender, symptoms, gastrointestinal disease history, risk factors, co-existing diseases, results of rectal, nasogastric and endoscopic examinations, treatment modalities and clinical outcomes. Significantly more patients were diagnosed with AUGIH during Ramadan compared with the non-Ramadan month (43 versus 28, respectively). Significantly more patients diagnosed during Ramadan had a history of previous haemorrhage compared with the non-Ramadan month (72.1% versus 42.9%, respectively). Peptic ulcer was the most common event in both groups and overall endoscopy findings differed between the groups. No other significant differences were found. In conclusion, the number of patients presenting with AUGIH during Ramadan was significantly higher than that of an ordinary month, which suggests that fasting during Ramadan reactivates and aggravates pre-existing gastrointestinal diseases.

Achondroplasia associated with gonadal dysgenesis.

A 45-year-old woman with short stature and primary amenorrhoea was admitted during a health-screening programme. Physical examination revealed a shortness of proximal legs and arms, short stature and other clinical properties of achondroplasia. Secondary sexual characteristics assessment showed axillary hair stage 5, breast stage 4 and pubic hair stage 5 (Tanner staging). Chromosomal analysis showed a 46XX karyotype. Skeletal X-ray showed small iliac wings and narrow sciatic notches. On pelvic ultrasound examination, the uterus appeared infantile and the ovaries were not visualized. Physical examination and laboratory parameters revealed a diagnosis of hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of achondroplasia with gonadal dysgenesis discussed in the literature.

Caspase-dependent and -independent suppression of apoptosis by monoHER in Doxorubicin treated cells.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an antitumour agent for different types of cancer, but the dose-related cardiotoxicity limits its clinical use. To prevent this side effect we have developed the flavonoid monohydroxyethylrutoside (monoHER), a promising protective agent, which did not interfere with the antitumour activity of DOX. To obtain more insight in the mechanism underlying the selective protective effects of monoHER, we investigated whether monoHER (1 mM) affects DOX-induced apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (NeRCaMs), human endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and OVCAR-3. DOX-induced cell death was effectively reduced by monoHER in heart, endothelial and A2780 cells. OVCAR-3 cells were highly resistant to DOX-induced apoptosis. Experiments with the caspase-inhibitor zVAD-fmk showed that DOX-induced apoptosis was caspase-dependent in HUVECs and A2780 cells, whereas caspase-independent mechanisms seem to be important in NeRCaMs. MonoHER suppressed DOX-dependent activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in normal and A2780 cells as illustrated by p53 accumulation and activation of caspase-9 and -3 cleavage. Thus, monoHER acts by suppressing the activation of molecular mechanisms that mediate either caspase-dependent or -independent cell death. In light of the current work and our previous studies, the use of clinically achievable concentrations of monoHER has no influence on the antitumour activity of DOX whereas higher concentrations as used in the present study could influence the antitumour activity of DOX.

Pharmacokinetic behaviour of the chemoprotectants BNP7787 and mesna after an i.v. bolus injection in rats.

In preclinical studies, BNP7787 (disodium 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulphonate), the disulphide form of mesna, has demonstrated selective protection against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity due to conversion into mesna inactivating toxic platinum species. Mesna (sodium 2-mercapto ethane sulphonate), however, can affect the antitumour activity of cisplatin, while BNP7787 does not interfere with the antitumour activity. To understand the difference in interference with cisplatin-induced antitumour activity between BNP7787 and mesna as well to characterise the selective nephroprotection by BNP7787, the pharmacokinetics of BNP7787 and mesna, each given i.v. 1000 mg x kg(-1), were determined in plasma, kidney, liver, red blood cells (RBC), skeletal muscle and tumour of Fischer rats bearing subcutaneously implanted WARD colon tumours. The following results were obtained: (1). high concentrations of BNP7787 and mesna were observed in the plasma and kidney after administration of BNP7787 or mesna, except for mesna in plasma after BNP7787 administration; (2). in all other sampled compartments, the AUC values of both compounds were at least 5.5-fold lower than the corresponding values in kidney; (3). the AUC of mesna in plasma after mesna administration was comparable to the AUC of mesna in kidney after a dose of BNP7787 that can completely prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats; (4). the AUC of mesna in plasma was five-fold higher relative to the AUC of mesna following BNP7787 administration (P<0.01). In conclusion, the five-fold higher AUC of mesna in plasma after mesna administration and the fact that mesna is more reactive with (hydrated) cisplatin than its disulphide form BNP7787 represent a plausible explanation as to why mesna administration can reduce the antitumour activity of cisplatin. After BNP7787 administration, the distribution of BNP7787 and mesna was restricted to the kidney, which confirmed the selective protection of the kidney by BNP7787.

Evaluation of pulmonary complications of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To study the early and late pulmonary complications of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with operated breast cancer who received postoperative RT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Radiation pneumonia (RP) and radiation fibrosis (RF) rates were evaluated after 3 and 18 months from the end of RT, using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (RTOG/ EORTC) combined toxicity classification scale. Evaluation included physical examination, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the thorax, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). The incidence of RP and RF, the relationship between RP and RF and possible predisposing factors and the impact of RT on the PFTs were analyzed. RESULTS: Between December 2000 and March 2001 35 patients were included in the study. Due to several reasons 29 patients were evaluable for RP and 25 for RF. On the 3rd month post-RT, 17 (59%) patients developed RP. Three (18%) of the cases were grade 1, 13 (76%) grade 2 and 1 (6%) grade 3. One patient was radiologically diagnosed with early RF. When evaluated for RF, 9 (36%) of 25 patients were found to have RF. Four (45%) of them were grade 1, and 5 (55%) grade 2. FEV1, FEV1/FVC, VC, FVC values showed different degrees of decline on the 3rd month. The most prominent change occurred with DLCO/ VA ratio which decreased by 20%. On the 18th month, all values returned to at least the pretreatment levels. CONCLUSION: RT-induced RP and RF are quite frequent. As clinical findings are generally nonspesific, radiological findings of RP and RF should be known. Early and late effects on PFTs are generally mild and transient.

Cardiac or pulmonary dyspnea in patients admitted to the emergency department.

A simple and quick way of discrimination between cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea is essential in patients admitted to the emergency department. We aimed to assess the utility of easily applicable diagnostic tools in the differential diagnosis of cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea in patients presenting with shortness of breath. Clinical and radiologic evaluation, peak expiratory flow (PEF), PaO2, PaCO2 measurements were performed in 94 patients admitted to the emergency room with dyspnea. All the patients were hospitalized for accurate diagnosis and later were categorized into cardiac and pulmonary dyspnea groups. PEF, %PEF (percent of predicted PEF), dyspnea differentiation index (DDI = PEF x PaO2/1000), %DDI (%PEF x PaO2/1000), PaO2 and PaCO2 measurements were compared between the two groups. When cardiac and pulmonary dyspnea groups were compared, considering 1.6 as the cut-off value for DDI, measurements above this value imply cardiac pathology with 76.7% sensitivity and 67.2% specificity. The sensitivity and specificity for cardiac dyspnea calculated according to the cut-off values were 96.7% and 40.6% for %DDI; 86.7% and 60.9% for PEF; 86.7% and 54.7% for %PEF; 66.7 and 68.7 for PaO2. Also for pulmonary dyspnea, sensitivity and specificity values for PaCO2 were 50% and 93%. We conclude that DDI, %DDI, PEF, %PEF, PaO2 and PaCO2 are simple and easily applicable tools for differential diagnosis of cardiac and pulmonary dyspnea. Adjunctive utility of these tests in the emergency department with clinical and radiologic evaluation contributes to this discrimination.

[Plasma levels of interferon gamma and interleukin 10 in patients with lymphonodular toxoplasmosis]. / Stezenie interferonu gamma i interleukiny 10 w osoczu chorych na toksoplazmoze wezlowa.

The concentrations of IFN gamma and IL 10 in plasma of sixteen patients with toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy were measured. These examinations were carried out two times in the interval of a month. We found increased level of IFN gamma and normal concentrations of IL 10 in both of these terms.