Simple non-radioactive detection of the CFTR mutation N1303K by artificial creation of a restriction site.

N1303K is one of the most frequent non-delta F508 mutations causing cystic fibrosis in Central Europe. Since no restriction site is altered by this mutation and no other frequent mutations are known so far in exon 21, the detection requires a separate and laborious test. A mismatched primer was used to create an artificial Hin dIII site in amplified wildtype DNA, which is destroyed by the mutation. This allows for rapid and convenient detection by restriction enzyme digestion.     

Preliminary findings for preemptive analgesia with inhaled morphine: efficacy in septoplasty and septorhinoplasty cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of inhaled morphine for preemptive analgesia in patients who undergo septoplasty or septorhinoplasty. STUDY PLAN AND METHODS: Eighty ASA I-II patients scheduled for septoplasty or septorhinoplasty were recruited and randomly divided into 2 groups that received different treatments 10 minutes prior to induction. The preemptive analgesia group (Group P, n = 40) received 65 mug kg(-1) morphine sulphate (a 3-mL volume) via an oral nebulizer, and the control group (Group C, n = 40) received 3 mL 0.9% sodium chloride (physiological saline) via the same type of nebulizer. Blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, time to first requirement for analgesia, and occurrence of nausea/vomiting were recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between Groups P and C with respect to age, body weight, sex distribution, or duration of surgery. There was also no significant difference between the group frequencies of postoperative nausea/vomiting. The time to first requirement for analgesia was significantly longer in Group P than Group C. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest that a single dose of inhaled morphine administered preemptively prior to septoplasty or septorhinoplasty provides effective postoperative analgesia. EBM rating: B-3b.     

Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR in thoracic disc herniations

Summary The Gd-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance findings in two patients with herniated thoracic intervertebral discs are reported. The first patient was a 56-year-old woman with a small subligamentous T6-7 disc herniation, slightly lateralized to the right. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a central and right posterolateral disc herniation, including a large calcified fragment, at the T8-9 level. The nonenhanced MR examination revealed the presence of an extradural mass lesion in both patients, impinging upon the dural sac and compressing and displacing the spinal cord posteriorly. The lesion was slightly hypointense on both T1- and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. Following intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, enhancement of the posterior longitudinal ligament was noted and triangular areas of contrast uptake were seen to occur in the epidural space above and below the herniated disc. At surgery, they were found to correspond to dilated and congested epidural veins.     

Antitumor activity and cross-resistance studies with Pt-ascorbato complexes

Two ascorbatoplatinum complexes, cis-diammineascorbatoplatinum(II) (AMA) and cis-bis(ascorbato)-trans-diaminocyclohexaneplatinum(II) (CHA), were tested for antitumor activity in vivo on P388 leukemia and in vitro in suspension culture and soft agar assay. Sensitive line of L1210 and sublines with resistance induced against cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP) and two derivatives of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) were used for the in vitro tests. DNA synthesis inhibition in both sensitive and resistant cells was tested. The results are compared with DDP and DACH-Pt(II)-4-carboxyphtalate (TMA). Both tested complexes proved their antitumor activity in our experimental systems. The CHA complex was more effective than AMA and its effectiveness is comparable with that of DDP and TMA. Cross-resistance was found between DDP and AMA as well as TMA and CHA. There was no cross-resistance between DDP versus CHA, and TMA versus AMA.     

Management of lung and bone metastases from thyroid cancers of differentiated structures

During a period of thirty years (1959-1989) 374 patients underwent surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma at the 1st Department of Surgery of the University Medical School in Debrecen. Distant metastases were found in the lungs or bones in 36 patients (9.6%). In 20 patients the first clinical sign of the primary disease was the distant metastasis. The aspects of surgical treatment depended on whether the metastases were solitary or multiple, capable or uncapable of radioiodine uptake. Whereas the majority of pulmonary metastases respond well to 131I-treatment the therapy of bone metastases is multidisciplinary. The 5-year survival rate was 47%, the 10-year one 19%.     

Migration and schizophrenia: an examination of five hypotheses

Summary Data are presented on rates of admission for schizophrenia for the native born and the four largest foreign born populations living in England in 1981 (Irish, Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean born). These data show that, in general, the foreign born have higher rates of admission for schizophrenia, and a higher proportion of all diagnoses accounted for by this disorder than do the native born. The exception is Pakistani born women who have conspicuously low rates. Five hypotheses are examined to account for these differences. The apparently high rates of schizophrenia found for the Indian born of both sexes, and Pakistani born men can be accounted for to a large extent by the demographic differences that exist between them and the native born. The Irish born residents of England have rates comparable with the Irish in Ireland who also show much higher rates than do the native English. There is no completely satisfactory account for the very high rates found for Caribbean born men and women but a combination of adverse post migration experiences and tendency to misdiagnose schizophrenia in this group is offered as a tentative explanation for at least some of the excess. The low rates of admission for schizophrenia of Pakistani women is attributed to a tendency on their part to opt out of the formal mental health system after an initial encounter, possibly to return to their native land.     

Chlamydial infections and male infertility

Chlamydial infections may be difficult to diagnose due to the silent symptoms and difficulty in culturing. An infectious process may impair fertility by adversely affecting sperm functions, resulting in testicular damage or causing obstruction of the genital tract. In our study, we tried to find Chlamydial antigen by using EIA (Enzyme Immune Assay) and to compare the Ag(+) and Ag(−) groups according to semen parameters. Except for semen volume, we found significant differences in density, morphology, motility and viability (intervolume p>0.05, interdensity p<0.01, intermorphology p<0.001, intermotility p<0.001 and interviability p<0.001).     

Botulinum versus tetanus neurotoxins: Why is botulinum neurotoxin but not tetanus neurotoxin a food poison?

Botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins, produced by Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani, respectively, are the most poisonous poisons known to mankind. Although botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins share several characteristics, such as similar mol. wts, similar macrostructure, virtually identical mode of action, and a strong amino acid sequence homology, the two neurotoxins differ in one very significant way; only botulinum neurotoxin is a food poison. Factors responsible for the food poisoning potential of botulinum neurotoxins seem to be a group of complexing proteins that are also produced by C. botulinum, and are known to associate with the neurotoxin. Translation products of nucleotide sequences upstream to the neurotoxin genes of serotypes A, B, C, D, E and F botulinum neurotoxin reveal the location of genes for one of the complexing proteins that could be transcribed as polycistronic mRNA to include neurotoxin sequences. No such protein seems to be present in C. tetani, suggesting that the lack of complexing proteins might be responsible for tetanus not being a food poison.