Gonadoblastoma in an anatomically normal man: a case report and literature review

Gonadoblastoma, a rare gonadal neoplasm, presents most frequently in phenotypic female or phenotypically male patients with dysgenetic gonads or undescended testes. To date, only 2 cases of gonadoblastoma have been reported in anatomically normal male patients with scrotal testes. Both of these patients presented with testicular masses and germ cell tumors. We report a case of a genotypically and phenotypically normal, fertile man with descended testes who on evaluation for chronic orchialgia had a gonadoblastoma unaccompanied by a germ cell neoplasm. The tumor was nonpalpable and was initially discovered on scrotal ultrasound.     

The acting or interim leadership position: expectations, perceptions, realities

The acting or interim leadership position has been neglected in terms of selection, role identification, and status. Individuals, programs, and organizations are paying a price for this inattention.     

The everyday realities of the multi-dimensional role of the high school community nurse.

The traditional role of the high school based community community health nurse has changed considerably over recent decades. This article describes a qualitative study, in which nine community health nurses from eight different high schools completed a diary of the interventions and events during the course of two working days in order to identify the dimensions of their role. A short demographic questionnaire was also completed by the nurses and included two open-ended questions concerning their main professional issues and concerns. The researchers sought verification of the interpretation of the data through a focus group interview with the high school nurses. Data analysis indicated that the role of the high school community health nurses (CHN) consisted of seven categories. These were provider of clinical care, counsellor/ mediator, advocacy and support, liaison/referral, health promotion/education and resource agent, and professional management and research role. The findings highlight the complex and demanding aspects of the role of the high school nurse and articulate the importance of describing the contribution of such practitioners in to the promotion of health among adolescents.     

Colonoscopy and bacteraemia: an experience in 50 patients

There is little consensus concerning the incidence of bacteraemia during colonoscopy and the need for antibiotic prophylaxis in susceptible patients. Hepatic abscesses in one patient which may have been related to prior colonoscopic examinations led the authors to carry out a prospective study of 50 patients undergoing colonoscopy. Multiple blood cultures were carried out to maximise the positive yield of transient bacteraemia and to attempt to determine the time when bacteraemia is most likely to occur. Five patients had positive blood cultures. In two patients S epidermidis was isolated, but only from the precolonoscopic blood sample. In three subjects enteric organisms were cultured from blood samples obtained during the procedure. In one of these three the same organism was cultured from the preendoscopic blood sample so that in only two patients (4%) could the bacteraemia be attributed to the colonoscopy. These results would suggest that the risk of bacteraemia during colonoscopy is low.     

Lithium use during pregnancy

A manic depressive illness is diagnosed in many women of childbearing age; thus they are candidates for lithium therapy. Since lithium has the most clearly documented teratogenic effect of all the psychotropic drugs, special care must be taken by the physician and patient when considering its use during this period of life. A review of the literature is presented and suggested guidelines are given for the use of lithium in this at-risk population.     

Carcinoma in a True Diverticulum of the Gallbladder

Extensive search of the literature reveals the extreme rarity of true diverticulum of the gallbladder. Its frequency varies from 0.0008% of all resected gallbladders at the Mayo Clinic to 0.06% of a series of congenital anomalies of the gallbladder collected from the world literature. We are presenting a case of a true diverticulum of the gallbladder with sonographic demonstration and focal malignant alterations, neither one of which has been reported previously. The difference between true and false diverticula of the gallbladder is discussed.     

The effect of phencyclidine and DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid induced changes in extracellular concentration of dopamine and DOPAC in the rat neostriatum.

The effects of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and phencyclidine (PCP) on extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the striatum of the rat were studied using in vivo microdialysis. Intrastriatal infusion of NMDA produced a significant dose-dependent increase in extracellular DA and a decrease in concentrations of DOPAC. Whereas both 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and PCP antagonized the NMDA-induced increase in extracellular levels of DA, the effect on NMDA-induced changes in extracellular concentrations of DOPAC were different for the two compounds. The APV significantly attenuated the decrease in extracellular DOPAC produced by smaller concentrations of NMDA, whereas PCP did not prevent decrease in DOPAC produced by any concentrations of NMDA. Phencyclidine alone produced a dose-dependent increase in extracellular DA but had no effect on the extracellular concentration of DOPAC. This study demonstrated that PCP, at concentrations which did not produce an increase in extracellular DA, antagonized the effect of the NMDA on DA. The data also indicated that both APV and PCP antagonized the NMDA-evoked release of DA over a range of concentrations of NMDA, even though they did so by different mechanisms.