The effect of diet enriched with rapeseed meal on endogenous thiouracil contents in urine of calves.

Thiouracil (TU) is a representative of a group of thyreostatics, orally active drugs that can be used to increase the weight of cattle before slaughter. The use of thyreostats in animal production has been banned in the European Union since 1981. Systematic detection of low concentrations of thiouracil in the urine of livestock is acknowledged to be of endogenous origin due to the use of Brassicaceae plants in the animal diet. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of diet enriched with rapeseed meal on endogenous thiouracil contents in urine of calves. Two groups of calves of different age were subjected to a rapeseed-supplemented diet. First group (n = 6, 6 months) received a maximum authorized content of rapeseed meal (30%) in diet, second (n = 2, 2 months) after adaptation to solid food and rapeseed, has been subjected to a diet exceeding the maximum recommended dose of rapeseed of 10%. During the experiments, samples of urine and faeces were collected and analyzed by using the accredited LC-MS/MS method. The diet with allowed content of rapeseed did not influenced on concentration of endogenous thiouracil in calves' urine (

A comparison of functional assessment instruments and work status in chronic back pain.

AIM: The aim of this cross sectional study was to analyse whether low back pain (LBP) functional assessment instruments correlate well with work status measures. METHODS: This study was a cross sectional study that enrolled 375 patients with chronic LBP attending back pain outpatient clinics of a University Hospital and a specialist rehabilitation centre over a period of one year. The outcome scores measured were Oswestry Disability Index, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire. The effect of back pain on their work status was also recorded and correlated to the above instrument values. RESULTS: There was a only a modest correlation between work status and the three measured outcome scores, with the Spearman rank correlation being 0.47 for OMPQ, 0.43 for ODI and 0.39 for RMQ. CONCLUSION: The studied standard LBP outcome measures and work status are not interchangeable. The impact on work status should not be assumed based on the severity of these outcome measures and should be recorded as a separate outcome measure in chronic low back pain.

The outcome of a functional restoration programme for chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes have been successfully advocated for chronic low back pain. AIM: The aim of the study was to establish the functional and vocational outcome of a 3-week functional restoration programme. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Uncontrolled clinical series. METHODS: One hundred and eighteen chronic low back pain patients underwent a 100-h programme consisting of back exercises, hydrotherapy, gymnasium work education and cognitive behavioural therapy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris (RM), 'patient global assessment tool' and work status scores were completed pre-programme and at least 1 year post programme. RESULTS: The ODI score improved by 15.6% (95% CI 11.8-19.4) and RM score by 4.6 points (95% CI 3.6-5.6). The proportion of patients who were seriously affected in the workplace had dropped from 59 to 22%. More than 85% of patients were satisfied with the outcome. CONCLUSION: Functional restoration programme improves the functional activity and vocational status of patients with chronic low back pain.

Controlled Arrangement of Supramolecular Metal Coordination Arrays on Surfaces.

Metallo-supramolecular systems have been adsorbed in a controlled way onto graphite surfaces and visualized with molecular resolution for the first time. A parallel or orthogonal arrangement of the metal coordination arrays is evident depending on the specific ligands (see picture). Furthermore, simple nanomanipulations were performed by extracting single grids from the layer.

Surgical management of spinal tuberculosis in adults. Hong Kong operation compared with debridement surgery for short and long term outcome of deformity.

Of 112 patients who were subjects of the Medical Research Council's prospective study, 105 (94%) were involved in a longitudinal study follow-up for a mean of 15.3 years postoperatively. Seventy-one patients had radical resection of the tuberculous lesion and bone grafting, and the remaining 34 were treated with debridement surgery at a mean age of 36.7 and 35.3 years, respectively. All these patients were aged 18 years or older at the time of surgery. The kyphosis and deformity angles were measured on lateral spinal radiographs using an electronic digitizer. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) Neurologic recovery in both radical and debridement surgical groups were equally good and no patient had pain two years after surgery. There was no incidence of reactivation or recurrence of tuberculosis in either surgical group. (2) At the six-month postoperative evaluation, patients who had radical surgery showed marginal correction in deformity, whereas those who were treated with debridement showed deterioration in both kyphosis and deformity angles. There was a statistically significant difference between the two surgical groups for the mean changes in kyphosis and deformity angles at the six-month postoperative evaluation compared with their preoperative evaluation. (3) The mean difference for kyphosis and deformity angles at final follow-up evaluation from the patients' six-month postoperative measurements were not statistically significantly different between the two surgical groups. (4) Forty percent of patients showed an improvement in deformity angle by 5 degrees or more after radical surgery at the six-months postoperative evaluation, whereas 53% of patients showed deterioration after debridement surgery. (5) All patients with tuberculosis of the lumbar spine treated with radical surgery had normal lordosis in the lumbar spine at final follow-up evaluation, compared with only 63% of patients after debridement surgery. Correction achieved after surgery at the six-month evaluation was practically maintained up to final follow-up evaluation. Radical resection and bone grafting provided better correction of deformity than did debridement surgery.

Longitudinal changes in spinal deformity after anterior spinal surgery for tuberculosis of the spine in adults. A comparative analysis between radical and debridement surgery.

Of 112 patients who entered the Medical Research Council's prospective study on the surgical management of spinal tuberculosis, 105 were available for review at a mean follow-up of 15.3 years postoperatively. All these patients were age 18 years or more at the time of surgery. Seventy-one patients had radical surgery; the remaining 34 underwent debridement surgery. The longitudinal changes in spinal deformity were evaluated using kyphus and deformity angles from lateral spinal radiographs obtained at preoperative evaluation, postoperatively at 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years, and at final follow-up. The mean kyphos and deformity angles showed correction after radical surgery at 6 months' evaluation; thereafter there were minimal variations up to final follow-up. Those who underwent debridement surgery showed an increase in these angles at 6 months postoperative evaluation; thereafter there were practically no changes in thoracic and thoracolumbar tuberculosis, whereas in lumbar tuberculosis there was spontaneous correction from 1 year post-surgery onward. The changes in mean kyphos and deformity angles at 6 months postoperative evaluation from their preoperative values were significantly different between the two surgical groups, where radical surgery produced better correction. Thus, the choice of surgery--radical or debridement--is important in determining the fate of spinal deformity in the management of tuberculosis of the spine.

Spinal deformity after childhood surgery for tuberculosis of the spine. A comparison of radical surgery and debridement.

We have reviewed 80 children who were involved in the Medical Research Council (UK) trial of surgical treatment for tuberculosis of the spine in Hong Kong. Radical surgery or debridement had been performed at mean ages of 7.6 years (n = 47) and 5.1 years (n = 33) respectively. The patients were followed up to skeletal maturity (mean 17 years). Spinal deformity was measured on lateral radiographs taken preoperatively, at six months, one year, five years and at final follow-up. Radical surgery and grafting produced a reduction in kyphos and deformity angles at six months; this correction was maintained during the growth period. By contrast, after debridement surgery there was an increase in deformity at six months, with a tendency to some spontaneous correction during the growth period. There were statistically significant differences between angles for the radical and debridement groups only at six months postoperatively, but the changes during later follow-up were similar in the radical and debridement groups. Our findings highlight the importance of the surgical correction of deformity, and provide no evidence to suggest that disproportionate posterior spinal growth contributes to progression of deformity after anterior spinal fusion in children.

17-year prospective study of surgical management of spinal tuberculosis in children. Hong Kong operation compared with debridement surgery for short- and long-term outcome of deformity.

A comparative analysis of the short and long-term results of two surgical procedures, radical excision or debridement, for the management of spinal tuberculosis in children is reported. Eighty children (47 treated with radical surgery and 33 with debridement) were prospectively studied and followed to maturity (mean follow-up, 17 years postoperatively). The kyphus and deformity angles were measured from lateral spinal radiographs using an electronic digitizer. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) Long-term clinical outcome of the two surgical procedures were equally good for recovery of neurologic deficit and relief of pain. There was no incidence of reactivation and/or recurrence of tuberculous lesion in either group; 2) The mean changes in kyphus and deformity angles at the 6-month postoperative evaluation compared to their preoperative value were significantly different for the two surgical groups. There was an overall correction in these angles after radical surgery, whereas there was a deterioration after debridement surgery; 3) There were no significant differences in the changes in kyphus or deformity angles at final follow-up from their 6-month postoperative measurements between the two surgical groups; 4) The majority of children (56%) showed an improvement in deformity angle of 5 degrees or more after radical surgery at the 6-month postoperative evaluation, whereas 69% of children showed deterioration after debridement surgery; 5) At final follow-up in lumbar tuberculosis, 60% of patients in the debridement group had 10 degrees or more kyphus angle, whereas only one patient in the radical group had a kyphotic lumbar spine due to graft failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of thiopental, fentanyl, and etomidate on upper extremity somatosensory evoked potentials in humans.

The effects of three anesthetic induction agents on somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were assessed in unpremedicated patients who were without neurologic abnormality of the upper extremities. SEP was assessed by stimulation of the nondominant median nerve and responses were recorded over Erbs point (N10), second cervical vertebra (N14), and the contralateral cortex (P15, N20, P23 latencies, and P15-N20 and N20-P23 amplitudes). Nine patients received thipental (4 mg/kg, iv bolus), nine patients received fentanyl (25 micrograms/kg, iv bolus), and nine patients received etomidate (0.4 mg/kg, iv bolus). SEP was assessed before and after drug administration at motor threshold stimulus intensity. Thiopental increased the latency of N10, N14, and N20. The amplitudes of N10-, N14-, and scalp-recorded waves were not altered by thiopental. Fentanyl increased N20 and P23 latency and decreased the amplitude of P15-N20. Etomidate increased latency of N20 and P23 without alteration of latencies of N10 or N14 and increased the amplitude of P15-N20 and N20-P23, while the amplitude of N10 was unchanged and the amplitude of N14 was decreased. It is concluded that thiopental or fentanyl causes only modest alterations in early waves of upper extremity SEP, whereas etomidate increases the amplitude of scalp-recorded waves. The effect of etomidate on SEP may make diagnosis of neurologic injury more difficult because of the changing waveform.

Transmission of in-vitro radioresistance in a cancer-prone family.

Neoplasms of possible radiogenic origin developed in two members of a family prone to a diversity of cancers, including bone and soft-tissue sarcoma, brain and breast cancers, and leukaemia. Gamma-irradiation survival studies in these two patients and three other relatives, but not their spouses, over three generations demonstrated resistance to cell killing. The D10 value (radiation dose required to reduce survival to 10%) was significantly higher for the five radioresistant strains (491 +/- 30 rad) than for control cultures (405 +/- 18 rad). There was a significant correlation between individual D10 values and D0 survival-curve parameters, indicating that changes in the exponential slope of the survival curves accounted for much of the increase in D10 values. This novel radiation phenotype could be a manifestation of a basic cellular defect, predisposing to a variety of tumours in family members. Thus in-vitro radioresistance, like radiosensitivity, may be a phenotype of a mechanism that increases cancer risk in man.

Association of in vitro radiosensitivity and cancer in a family with acute myelogenous leukemia.

The gamma-ray sensitivity of skin fibroblasts from six members of a cancer family was investigated using a colony-forming assay. Fibroblasts from the three members with cancer (two sisters with acute myelogenous leukemia and the mother with cervical carcinoma) showed a significant (p less than 0.05) increase in radiosensitivity, while three members without cancer (the father and two sons) showed a normal radioresponse. The possibility that the increased gamma-ray sensitivity was due to defective DNA repair was investigated using assays for DNA repair replication, single-strand break rejoining, and removal of enzyme-sensitive sites in gamma-irradiated DNA. Results of these assays indicate that the kinetics of enzymatic repair of radiogenic DNA damage in general, and the rejoining of single-strand scissions and excision repair of base and sugar radioproducts in particular, were the same in the cell lines from the sensitive and clinically normal family members.