Susceptibility of hamsters to caecal amoebiasis by oral infection

A method is described for successfully establishing caecal amoebiasis in hamsters which were not fed and which were pretreated with 1 ml of magnesium sulphate every 24 hours for three days and then given 12 x 10(5) trophozoites of the HM-1 axenic strain or 18 x 10(5) trophozoites of the HK-9 axenic strain of Entamoeba histolytica by the oral route. All the animals developed diarrhoea within 24 hours of infection. When the animals were killed on the fifth day after infection the caecum was swollen and fused. Large macroscopic ulcers full of pus could be seen in the caecum. None of the control animals showed any of the changes mentioned above.     

Cytomorphological features of combined myxoid and round cell liposarcoma--a case report

Fine needle aspiration cytology plays an important role in the preoperative assessment of soft tissue neoplasms. In a 40-year-old man presenting with a large soft tissue mass in the posterior aspect of thigh a diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma was suggested on FNAC. Scrape smears of the excised mass showed an additional finding of round cell component. Histopathology confirmed combined myxoid and round cell liposarcoma (grade 2), which behaves aggressively when compared to pure myxoid liposarcoma.     

Dose and dose rate effects of whole-body proton irradiation on leukocyte populations and lymphoid organs: part I.

The goal of part I of this study was to evaluate the effects of whole-body proton irradiation on lymphoid organs and specific leukocyte populations. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to the entry region of the proton Bragg curve to total doses of 0.5 gray (Gy), 1.5 Gy, and 3.0 Gy, each delivered at a low dose rate (LDR) of 1 cGy/min and high dose rate (HDR) of 80 cGy/min. Non-irradiated and 3 Gy HDR gamma-irradiated groups were included as controls. At 4 days post-irradiation, highly significant radiation dose-dependent reductions were observed in the mass of both lymphoid organs and the numbers of leukocytes and T (CD3(+)), T helper (CD3(+)/CD4(+)), T cytotoxic (CD3(+)/CD8(+)), and B (CD19(+)) cells in both blood and spleen. A less pronounced dose effect was noted for natural killer (NK1.1(+) NK) cells in spleen. Monocyte, but not granulocyte, counts in blood were highly dose-dependent. The numbers for each population generally tended to be lower with HDR than with LDR radiation; a significant dose rate effect was found in the percentages of T and B cells, monocytes, and granulocytes and in CD4(+):CD8(+) ratios. These data indicate that mononuclear cell response to the entry region of the proton Bragg curve is highly dependent upon the total dose and that dose rate effects are evident with some cell types. Results from gamma- and proton-irradiated groups (both at 3 Gy HDR) were similar, although proton-irradiation gave consistently lower values in some measurements.     

Nonvenereal transmission of venereal syphilis in a child

A case of nonvenereal acquisition of syphilis in a 2.5 year old male Indian child is discussed. The child had condylomata lata around the anal and prepuce, with enlarged nontender inguinal lymph nodes. Treponema pallidum was found in material from both lesions, and both the VDRL and FTA-Abs tests were positive. There were not other significant findings. The patient was treated with 1.2 million units of benzathine penicillin im, and the lesions resolved in 7 days. This boy had been raised by his grandparents since the age of 6 months. They did not report a primary syphilitic lesion, but the grandmother did admit to kissing the child's genitals, a custom of affection toward babies in the area. Sexual abuse was denied. The grandmother had a buccal lesion, which showed a Treponema on darkfield microscopy, and she had positive syphilis serology. both grandparents were also treated.     

A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of paclitaxel poliglumex (XYOTAX), investigating both 3-weekly and 2-weekly schedules.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety, maximum tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics, and toxicities associated with administration of paclitaxel poliglumex (PPX, XYOTAX, Cell Therapeutics, Inc., Bresso, Italy) given on either 3-weekly or 2-weekly schedule. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Nineteen patients were investigated on the 3-weekly phase Ia study and 11 patients on the 2-weekly phase Ib study. Dose escalation starting with 100% increments and one patient per dose level was modulated in accordance with the observed toxicities. Conjugated and unconjugated paclitaxel were measured in plasma. RESULTS: Dose-limiting toxicity of neutropenia was encountered at 266 mg/m(2) (paclitaxel equivalents) in phase Ia and the maximum tolerated dose was 233 mg/m(2). Neuropathy was dose-limiting in phase Ib with a maximum tolerated dose of 177 mg/m(2). Pharmacokinetic investigations indicated a prolonged half-life of >100 hours for conjugated taxanes. Plasma concentrations of unconjugated paclitaxel were similar to those following administration of an equivalent dose of Taxol. Two partial responses were observed, one in a patient with mesothelioma at 177 mg/m(2) in phase Ia and one in a patient with gastric carcinoma at 175 mg/m(2) in phase Ib. CONCLUSION: PPX is a water-soluble paclitaxel-polymer conjugate with a prolonged half-life and limited volume of distribution. Dose-limiting toxicities were neutropenia and neuropathy. PPX showed activity in this patient population.     

Congenital Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia and Hyperammonemia due to Pathogenic Variants in GLUD1

Indian Journal of Pediatrics - Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder, characterized by dysregulated insulin secretion. Pathogenic variants in at...     

Bradykinin antagonists have no analgesic effect on incisional pain

Bradykinin, an endogenous nonapeptide and an important mediator of inflammation, is also implicated in the initiation and maintenance of pain. Both des-Arg(8), Leu(8)-bradykinin (dALBK) and HOE-140, the prototypic bradykinin B1 and B2 receptor antagonists, respectively, have been shown to reduce pain behaviors and inflammation in animal models of persistent nociception. We studied them for activity against incision-induced pain behaviors in a rat model for postoperative pain. A 1-cm plantar incision was made in the hind paw of halothane-anesthetized rats and closed with 5-0 nylon. Withdrawal responses to punctate and nonpunctate mechanical stimuli were tested with von Frey filaments and a plastic disk attached to a von Frey filament, respectively. Withdrawal latency to radiant heat was also tested. Rats were tested 1 day before the incision, 1 h after the incision, and 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2.5 h after the injection of the drug. They were then retested at the same times before and after the injection of the drug on each of the first 2 postoperative days. The rats received the saline vehicle dALBK (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg) or HOE-140 (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg) IV. Another group of rats had the drug injected 1 h before incision and tested as above. Statistical significance (P < 0.05) was determined with Kruskal-Wallis test and a two-way analysis of variance. None of the doses of either dALBK or HOE-140 affected the responses to punctate or blunt mechanical stimulation or heat, either as a pretreatment or as a posttreatment. These data support the unique mechanisms for incision-induced pain relative to inflammation-related pain. Although inflammation may represent a component of incisional pain, the etiology of inflammation and its role seem different than in other models.     

Anesthetic and recovery profiles of lidocaine versus mepivacaine for spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing outpatient orthopedic arthroscopic procedures

Study ObjectiveTo compare isobaric lidocaine and mepivacaine in outpatient arthroscopic surgery.DesignProspective, randomized, double-blinded study.SettingAmbulatory surgery center affiliated with an academic tertiary-care hospital.Patients84 adult, ASA physical status 1, 2, and 3 ambulatory patients, age 18-70 years, undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.InterventionPatients were randomized to receive a combination spinal-epidural anesthetic using 80 mg of either isobaric 2% mepivacaine or isobaric 2% lidocaine. Patients also received a femoral 3-in-1 block with 0.5% bupivacaine applied to the affected extremity.MeasurementsDemographic data and level and duration of the block were recorded. The use of supplemental epidural anesthesia was noted along with frequency of bradycardia, hypotension, and episodes of nausea and vomiting. Duration of block and times to ambulation and voiding were recorded. Delayed variables, including fatigue, difficulty urinating, back pain, and transient neurologic symptoms (TNS) were obtained.Main ResultsNo demographic differences were noted between groups, and surgical duration was similar. Satisfactory anesthesia was achieved in all cases, with no differences noted in hypotension, bradycardia, nausea, or vomiting. Onset of sensory and motor block was similar. Duration of block before epidural supplementation was 94 ± 21 minutes with lidocaine versus 122 ± 23 minutes for mepivacaine (P < 0.011). Times to ambulation and voiding were longer in patients receiving mepivacaine but did not affect PACU stay. Twenty-four and 48-hour recovery was similar with no TNS symptoms reported.ConclusionNo major differences were noted between lidocaine and mepivacaine spinal anesthesia. Time to ambulation and voiding were longer in patients who received mepivacaine as was time to first dose of epidural catheter. Neither group had TNS symptoms. Lidocaine and mepivacaine are both appropriate spinal anesthetics for ambulatory orthopedic lower extremity procedures.     

The Effects of Additional Tumor Cavity Sampling at the Time of Breast-Conserving Surgery on Final Margin Status,Volume of Resection,and Pathologist Workload

Introduction  

Margin status is an important prognostic factor for local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in patients with breast malignancy. It is unclear whether the removal of additional tumor cavity margins reduces the reoperation rate and is cosmetically acceptable. This study compares the reoperation rates, volume of breast excised in cm³, and number of pathology slides examined in two groups of patients who underwent BCS with or without four or five additional margins (BCS + M).