The pseudokidney sign in intussusception

Abdominal Radiology -     

Ankyloglossia: a morphofunctional investigation in children

OBJECTIVES: To provide diagnostic criteria for ankyloglossia in children by anatomical measurements; to investigate the correlation between severity of ankyloglossia and a series of morphofunctional findings; to evaluate the potential mismatch between a clinical suspect of ankyloglossia and the authentic anatomical diagnosis. DESIGN: Two different techniques of anatomical measurements and a clinical evaluation of a series of morphofunctional findings were performed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 200 children referred for evaluation and treatment of tongue-tie, the length of the frenulum and the interincisal distance were measured in maximum opening of the mouth and with the tip of the tongue touching the palatal papilla. Occlusion, type of bite, tongue resting position, swallowing mechanism, oral floor mobility, frenulum insertion modality and speech were investigated. Any correlation between these morphofunctional findings and anatomical measures was investigated. RESULTS: Children with a frenulum length more than 2 cm and an interincisal distance of more than 2.3 cm were normal. In both measurements, significant correlations among mean values and other variables were observed. Moreover, three levels -- mild, moderate and severe -- of ankyloglossia were assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Length of frenulum and interincisal distance allow an assessment of severity of ankyloglossia in children. Ankyloglossia was not associated with infantile swallowing.     

The “zebra spleen”

Abdominal Radiology -     

The response of some blood constituents after administration of two different diets in goats

Twenty clinically healthy goats were divided into two equal groups based on two different diets. Goats in group A were fed with 25 % barley, 12 % oat, 15 % faba bean, 10 % pea, 20 % sugar beet pulps, 5 % molasses and 3 % mineral. Goats in group B were fed with 25 % corn, 15 % soybean hulls, 12 % soybean meal, 10 % sunflower meal, 20 % sugar beet pulps, 5 % molasses and 3 % mineral. To establish the effect of diet composition on haematological and biochemical concentrations, blood samples were collected from the external jugular vein once a week, for 1 month (T0–T4), twice daily (0700 and 1800 hours). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed a significant effect of different diets (P?P?P?相似文献   

The “spoke wheel” sign in hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia

Abdominal Radiology -     

Presence of human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus in the cervix of women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was sought in cervical scrapings from 110 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women to evaluate the role of these viruses as risk factors for squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. By using PCR, presence of HPV-DNA and EBV-DNA was found in 60.9% (67/110) and in 10% (11/110) of clinical samples, respectively. Identification of oncogenic group of HPV by hybrid capture (HC II, Murex-Digene) indicated the presence of low-risk HPV in 13 (19.4%) patients, high-risk HPV in 28 (41.8%), and both types of HPV in 26 (38.8%) patients. Squamous intraepithelial lesions were present in 59 cases, being low-grade (n = 52) and high-grade (n = 7) lesions. HPV was detected in 84.7% of patients with lesions, in association with low-grade (43/52) and high-grade lesions (7/7), and in 33% of patients without lesions. EBV-DNA was detected in 8 patients with low-grade lesions and in 3 patients without lesions. Concurrent genital HPV and EBV infection was observed in 9 cases. HPV was associated with detection of squamous intraepithelial lesions [OR = 3.55; 95% CI = (1.96; 6.48)]. No significant association was found between presence of EBV and detection of lesions, both in case of EBV infection alone [OR = 1.4; 95% CI = (0. 93; 2.12)] and in case of HPV/EBV combined infection [OR = 0.87; 95%CI = (0.54; 1.42)]. These data confirm the significant role of HPV as risk factor for squamous intraepithelial lesions and suggest that EBV could not be involved in the pathogenesis of the lesions that arise in the cervix of HIV-positive women.     

Effect of glycine on the release of reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils

The increase of extracellular glycine concentration prevents or mitigates a variety of pathological dysfunctional inflammatory responses. To eliminate the systemic effects of glycine as the reduction in the release of cytokines, this study was performed in isolated human neutrophils. The increase of the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+](i)) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release in cells incubated with glycine (0.1 to 10 mM) and stimulated with fMLP or PMA were compared with glycine-free controls. Glycine inhibited ROS production but increased [Ca2+](i) signal produced by fMLP. The inhibition of ROS production was observed even when glycine was added after the ROS release had reached maximal rate. The inhibitory effect was insensitive to strychnine and also obtained when PMA was used as stimulant. This study demonstrated that glycine impaired the activation of oxidative burst independently of glycine-gated chloride channel, presumably at the membrane level.     

Presence of Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and human papillomavirus in normal oral mucosa of HIV-infected and renal transplant patients

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of EBV-DNA, CMV-DNA and HPV-DNA in oral healthy mucosa of HIV-infected and renal transplant patients. To associate the detection of viral genomes with laboratory parameters of immunodeficiency, gender, antiretroviral and immunosuppressive therapy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of lingual and buccal cytobrushings from HIV-infected and renal transplant patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Lingual and buccal cytobrushings were obtained from clinically normal oral mucosa of 57 HIV+, 40 renal transplant patients and 30 healthy uninfected controls, all matched for age at baseline of examination. Presence of EBV-, CMV- and HPV-DNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We evaluated their association, in HIV+ subjects, with gender, CD4+ cell count, HIV-RNA load, and antiretroviral therapy; and in renal transplant patients, with gender, CD4/CD8 ratio, and immunosuppressive therapy. Data were managed and analysed by Epi-Info 6.0. RESULTS: EBV-DNA was detected in 42.1% of HIV+ (24/57), in 65.0% of transplant patients (26/40), and in 16.6% of controls (5/30) (P = 0.03 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, male gender in HIV+ group was found to be significantly associated with the presence of EBV-DNA (P = 0.02) vs females, after adjusting for CD4+ cell count and HIV-RNA load. CMV- and HPV-DNA were detected in 3.5% and 7.0% of HIV+, and in none and 20.0% of transplant patients, respectively. No relationship was found between the epithelial detection of these two viruses and any parameter evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: EBV genome was significantly detected in clinically normal oral mucosa of renal transplant and HIV+ patients. A significant gender association was found among HIV+, suggesting that oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is more likely to occur in HIV+ men than women.     

Distribution of 3-nitrotyrosine in the nasal polyps of atopic patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether formation of nitrotyrosine in the nasal polyps of atopic patients occurs. STUDY DESIGN: A nonrandomized, retrospective, controlled qualitative and quantitative study. METHODS: Nasal polyp tissue samples were acquired from 12 atopic patients. Control fragments of nasal mucosa were taken from 10 patients undergoing corrective surgery of the nasal septum. For routine histologic examinations, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used. Low-magnification microscopy was designed to yield pathologic characteristics and high magnification to quantify the number of eosinophils in the subepithelial connective tissue. Presence of nitrotyrosine was assessed by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed presence of numerous eosinophils in the epithelium and in the subepithelial connective tissue. All polyps were characterized by epithelial damage. Nitrotyrosine was present in the eosinophils, in the ciliated cell, and in cells of the damaged epithelium. Goblet cells, glands, and vessels were found to be negative. No significant differences concerning the localization of nitrotyrosine were recognized among the examined nasal polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Nitrotyrosine immunohistochemical staining in nasal-polyp tissues suggested the existence of progressive epithelium injury caused by peroxynitrite. Consequences of peroxynitrite formation in eosinophils remain to be precisely established. The lack of nitrotyrosine in glands and blood vessels indicated that peroxynitrite does not have a significant role in the vascular and glandular dysfunction of nasal polyps.