Stimulation of phagocytic function in mouse macrophages by neurotensin and neuromedin N

The neuropeptides neurotensin and neuromedin N (from 10⁻¹² M to 10⁻⁹ M) have been showed in this study to stimulate significantly in vitro several steps of the phagocytic process: adherence to substrate, chemotaxis, ingestion of inert particles (latex beads) and production of superoxide anion measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in resting peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. A dose-response relationship was observed, with a maximal stimulation of the phagocytic process at 10⁻¹¹ M. The two neuropeptides induced no change of intracellular cyclic AMP in murine macrophages. Moreover, adherence and chemotaxis decreased significantly in the presence of EGTA (1 mM), a chelator of extracellular Ca²⁺, or ryanodine (0.5 mM), a blocker of a Ca²⁺-gated channel from the endoplasmic reticulum, in both controls and samples with the addition of neurotensin or neuromedin N. These results suggest that there is no relation between the cAMP messenger system and the phagocytic process stimulation in murine peritoneal macrophages by neurotensin or neuromedin N. In addition, the results observed with EGTA and ryanodine could indicate that these two neuropeptides produce their effects through an increase of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration.     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of the aroA gene from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and its use in a PCR assay for rapid identification

The gene (aroA) of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, serotype 2, encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase was cloned by complementation of the aroA mutation in Escherichia coli K-12 strain AB2829, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. A pair of primers from the 5' and 3' termini were selected to be the basis for development of a specific PCR assay. A DNA fragment of 1,025 bp was amplified from lysed A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1 to 12 of biovar 1 or from isolated DNA. No PCR products were detected when chromosomal DNAs from other genera were used as target DNAs; however, a 1,025-bp DNA fragment was amplified when Actinobacillus equuli chromosomal DNA was used as a target, which could be easily differentiated by its NAD independence. The PCR assay developed was very sensitive, with lower detection limits of 12 CFU with A. pleuropneumoniae cells and 0.8 pg with extracted DNA. Specificity and sensitivity make this PCR assay a useful method for the rapid identification and diagnosis of A. pleuropneumoniae infections.     

Diseño de una vía clínica para la atención a los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple

IntroductionClinical pathways are standard health care methods to coordinate clinical work, reduce inter-clinician variability, improve patient care and increase staff and patient satisfaction. The aim of this study is to develop a clinical pathway capable of organising and developing standard procedures for diagnosis, treatment and care in patients with multiple sclerosis and to coordinate all medical specialists involved in this disease.MethodsA multidisciplinary unit for the care of MS patients was developed. All of them and quality specialists analysed some international evidence-based studies, clinical guides, international guidelines and other clinical neurological pathways in several meetings and designed several documents for the clinical pathways.ResultsA clinical pathway was created consisting of a scientific-technical framework, which arranges the care in relation to the diagnosis and reatment. The framework is accompanied by various patient-information documents on the disease, an information sheet on diagnostic procedures and a map of the process. Quality standards were established to achieve continuous improvement in patient care.ConclusionsA clinical pathway for the care of MS patients in a multidisciplinary unit homogenises and organises the care which the MSpatient should receive from the initial symptoms to the progressive stages. This clinical pathway improves the quality of patient care, reduces the variability in work protocols and rationalises the use of the available health care resources.     

Serum bile acid levels in children with chronic persistent hepatitis and chronic aggressive hepatitis

A statistical study was carried out to determine if fasting serum bile acid levels are clinically useful in differentiating children with chronic persistent hepatitis from children with chronic aggressive hepatitis. Serum bile acid levels were determined in 27 patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis, 41 with chronic persistent hepatitis and 55 control children. Several other biochemical tests of liver function were also determined in these children. There were significant differences in the mean fasting serum bile acid levels between chronic hepatitis patients and control children (p less than 0.001). These levels were significantly higher for the chronic aggressive group than the chronic persistent hepatitis group (p less than 0.001). Other biochemical 'hepatic function' tests did not show statistically different values between these two groups. Using stepwise discriminant analysis for the biochemical 'liver function' tests studied, only serum bile acid levels are able to distinguish statistically between chronic aggressive hepatitis and chronic persistent hepatitis children. These data suggest that fasting serum bile acid levels may have clinical utility in identifying children with asymptomatic chronic hepatitis and differentiating between chronic aggressive hepatitis and chronic persistent hepatitis children.     

Breast reduction surgery—an easy formula to estimate the resection weight to be removed

Background

The preoperative prediction of therapeutic breast reduction weights which achieve both relief of symptoms and excellent shape and size breasts remains a challenge and, in addition, in the selection of patients with symptomatic macromatia for being treated by reduction mammaplasty the estimation of the amount of tissue to be removed plays an important role because this criterion is required almost universally. The objective of this study is to calculate a formula for the preoperative prediction of the amount of breast tissue which has to be removed in the treatment of symptomatic macromastia based on data obtained from a series of patients with symptomatic breast hypertrophy treated with reduction mammaplasty characterized by the fact that successful outcome (functional and cosmetic) had previously been achieved and assessed objectively.

Methods

A prospective study was performed on 39 patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty for breast hypertrophy. The Short Form (SF)-36 quality of life questionnaire (Spanish version 1.4, June 1999) and the Breast Reduction Assessed Severity Scale Questionnaire, which was double-blind translated, were both answered preoperatively, a week before, and postoperatively, 6 months after surgery, for testing the effectiveness of the treatment. The patients were asked to score cosmetic results (1 to 10, very bad to excellent) and how satisfied with the new breast size they were. Data were collected from these patients to calculate a formula for preoperative prediction of breast resection weight. Regression analysis was performed separately on each of 78 breasts of these patients with breast weight as dependent variable and sternal notch-to-nipple distance (SNN), inframammary fold-to-nipple distance (IMFN), age, body mass index (BMI) and ascent of the nipple areola complex (ANAC) as independent variables.

Results

A simple model combining two variables (IMFN, ANAC) is strongly correlated with actual resection weight with adjusted r ² coefficient of 0.701. The formula breast weight (g)?=?(60(ANAC) (cm)?+?50(IMFN) (cm))???648 can predict resection weight which obtains satisfactory cosmetic results and a relief of symptoms improving quality of life.

Conclusions

A new easy formula to estimate preoperatively the amount of breast tissue to be removed is offered to surgeons who are planning a breast reduction mammaplasty. Level of evidence: level IV, risk/prognostic study     

Tau protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis

FUNDAMENTALS AND OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the prototype of demyelinating disease, but recently, it has been shown that the existence of axonal lesions contribute to irreversible central nervous system damage in this disease. Tau proteins are considered to be important for maintaining the stability of axonal microtubules involved in the mediation of fast axonal transport of synaptic constituents. There have been reports of increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau concentrations in patients with MS, and it has been suggested that this could be a marker of axonal damage. The objective of the present study was to elucidate whether CSF tau levels could be a marker of MS activity. PATIENT AND METHODS: We measured tau concentrations in the CSF of 20 patients with MS (nine in the first, seven in the second, one in the fourth exacerbation, and three patients with chronic progressive course) and 32 age- and sex-matched controls, using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The CSF tau concentrations of patients with MS did not differ from those of controls, and they were not correlated with age at onset and duration of the disease. CONCLUSION: CSF tau concentrations are not a marker of MS activity.     

Effect of semicarbazide on the perinatal development of the rat: changes in DNA, RNA and protein content

Semicarbazide was injected intraperitoneally to pregnant rats in single doses of 50, 75, 100 or 150 mg/kg. Treatment was administered on days 7, 10 or 13 of pregnancy. Semicarbazide produced abnormalities in 21 day old fetuses, found mainly in liver and kidney and in the skull and sternum, as well as resorptions and fetal deaths throughout gestation. This substance also caused a high postnatal mortality rate during the first month of life, especially with the 100 mg/kg dose. This dose reduced the nucleic acid and protein content in the lung and liver of the rats whether they were adult, pregnant, fetus or newborn. Statistically significant decrease of the nucleic acid level in adult rats appeared 48 hours after treatment. This decrease varied in the two organs studied. The lungs of pregnant rats which received semi-carbazide on day 10 of gestation showed a statistically significant decrease of the nucleic acid and protein levels on day 18 of gestation; there was also a significant decrease of RNA in the liver on this day, while a decrease in the proteins did not appear until day 21. The fetuses of treated mothers showed a significant decrease of DNA and RNA in the lung when they were 21 days old and a continuous decrease of the protein levels lasting up to the end of the first week of life. DNA and RNA in the liver of these offspring decreased when they were 30 days old. As for the protein content, it decreased throughout fetal life and continued to do so during the first month of fetal life.     

Non-monomelic synchronous primary multicentric chondrosarcoma: a case report

We report a patient with simultaneous presentation of two histologically grade 2 conventional chondrosarcomas non-derived from pre-existing cartilaginous lesions, in the absence of pulmonary or visceral involvement. One tumour was located at the right proximal femur and the other one at the right scapula. There was no evidence of local recurrence or pulmonary or visceral involvement three years and a half after total scapulectomy and resection of the proximal third of the femur. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with two non-monomelic synchronous chondrosarcomas arising in two previously normal bones of the skeleton. Such cases are often difficult to differentiate from metastatic disease.