Aneusomy of chromosome 18 is associated with the development of colorectal carcinoma

Specific loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 18 has been observed frequently in advanced colorectal carcinoma and is closely associated with its development. We investigated the prevalence of numerical aberrations of chromosome 18 in 44 specimens of colorectal carcinomas, using fluorescence in situ hybridization. We also examined the relationships between aneusomy of chromosome 18 and the clinicopathological features of these tumors. Aneusomy of the specimens (monosomy and polysomy) was determined when the same aneusomic population was detected in more than 15% of the nuclei. The frequency of monosomy and polysomy of chromosome 18 in colorectal carcinomas was 43% (19/44) and 29% (12/44), respectively. The prevalence of monosomy and polysomy 18 was significantly higher in cancers with invasion exceeding category T2 compared with T1 (P<0.01), and with tumor size exceeding 20 mm in diameter compared with tumors less than 20 mm (P<0.05). However, the prevalence of aneusomy 18 was not associated with other clinico-pathological features. The mean survival period and the 5-year survival rate after operation in patients with aneusomy 18 was not different from findings for those with disomy 18. Our results indicate that aneusomy of chromosome 18 is associated with the development of colorectal carcinoma; however, it is not a useful indicator of postoperative prognosis.     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL EVALUATION OF THE RADIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SODIUM SELENITE ON SUBMANDIBULAR GLANDS IN RATS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the radioprotector effect of sodium selenite on the ultrastructure of submandibular glands in rats. Fifty-seven male albino Wistar rats were randomized to 4 groups: control, irradiated, sodium selenite and irradiated/sodium selenite. The animals in the sodium selenite and irradiated/sodium selenite groups received intraperitoneal injections of sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg body weight) 24 h before irradiation. The animals belonging to the irradiated and irradiated/sodium selenite groups were submitted to 15 Gy of gamma radiation in the head and neck region. The submandibular glands were removed at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after irradiation. The ionizing radiation induced damage to the secretory cells, especially the serous cells, right from the first period. Vacuolization, lysis of cytoplasmic inclusions and nuclear alterations occurred. The sodium selenite group also presented cellular alterations in the study periods, but with less damage compared to that caused by radiation. There was greater similarity between the irradiated/sodium selenite group and the control group than with the other groups treated in all study periods. Despite the alterations observed in the sodium selenite group, sodium selenite presented a radioprotective action on the secretory cells of submandibular glands.     

Alkyl gallates, intensifiers of beta-lactam susceptibility in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We found that ethyl gallate purified from a dried pod of tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) intensified beta-lactam susceptibility in methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA strains, respectively). This compound and several known alkyl gallates were tested with MRSA and MSSA strains to gain new insights into their structural functions in relation to antimicrobial and beta-lactam susceptibility-intensifying activities. The maximum activity of alkyl gallates against MRSA and MSSA strains occurred at 1-nonyl and 1-decyl gallate, with an MIC at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited of 15.6 microg/ml. At concentrations lower than the MIC, alkyl gallates synergistically elevated the susceptibility of MRSA and MSSA strains to beta-lactam antibiotics. Such a synergistic activity of the alkyl gallates appears to be specific for beta-lactam antibiotics, because no significant changes were observed in the MICs of other classes of antibiotics examined in this study. The length of the alkyl chain was also associated with the modifying activity of the alkyl gallates, and the optimum length was C5 to C6. The present work clearly demonstrates that the length of the alkyl chain has a key role in the elevation of susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics.     

Effect of Topical Unoprostone Isopropyl on Optic Nerve Head Circulation in Controls and in Normal-Tension Glaucoma Patients

Purpose To evaluate the effect of unoprostone isopropyl on microcirculation in the optic nerve head (ONH) of controls and patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).Methods Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly placed in a placebo group or a control group. For ten NTG patients, one eye was selected to receive the placebo drops and the contralateral eye received the unoprostone in a masked fashion. In both studies, the intraocular pressure (IOP) and the parameters of the blood hemodynamics of the ONH were obtained before and at 1 and 2 h after the instillation. Blood flow measurements were made with a scanning laser Doppler flowmeter.Results In both control subjects and NTG patients, the changes in the IOPs after the instillation of either unoprostone or the placebo were not significant because almost all of the NTG patients had IOPs lower than 15 mmHg. Although the hemodynamic parameters were not significantly changed in the placebo-treated eyes of the controls, the eyes of the controls treated with unoprostone had mean blood velocity and flow values that were significantly higher than the baseline values 1 and 2 h after instillation (P < 0.01). The velocity values of the controls treated with unoprostone were significantly higher than in those controls receiving the placebo at 2 h postinstillation (P = 0.027). The values for the three circulation parameters (volume, velocity, flow) were significantly higher than the baseline values after instillation in the eyes of the NTG patients treated with unoprostone (P < 0.05). In contrast, none of these parameters was significantly different from the baseline in the eyes of NTG patients treated with placebo.Conclusions These results showed that unoprostone significantly increased microcirculation in the ONH in control subjects and in NTG patients without reducing the IOP significantly. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2005;49:287–293 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005     

Case of moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with gastric metastasis]

A solitary liver nodule about 1cm in diameter was detected in a 68-year-old male HBV carrier during therapy for advanced lung cancer. A multiple IIc-like depressed lesion originating in the stomach soon became elevated as the liver lesion progressed. HE staining produced hepatoma-like histological findings for the tumors of the lung, liver and stomach, while immunohistochemical staining showed them to be positive for PIVKA-II and weakly positive for HP-1. Autopsy led to a diagnosis of a moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma producing bile juice with metastasis to the lung and stomach. It is not clear why advanced metastasis in the lung occurred while the hepatocellular carcinoma in the liver was still small, but one possible explanation lies in the localization of the hepatic cancer: the tumor was located near a branch of the hepatic vein and vascular invasion may have caused early pulmonary metastasis via the hepatic venous flow.     

Magnitude of spontaneous preterm birth and its associated factors among preterm birth in NICU wards in Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital,Asella, Oromia,Ethiopia

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of spontaneous preterm births and to identify the associated risk factors.MethodsThis single-centre cross-sectional study enrolled women that experienced a preterm birth as registered on the neonatal log-book between 30 December 2019 and 30 December 2020. A pre-tested structured checklist was used to collect data (sociodemographic characteristics; obstetric-related factors; medical history; and pregnancy-related factors). Bivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify factors associated with spontaneous preterm birth. A multivariate model identified significant independent risk factors.ResultsA total of 310 patients participated in the study. The prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth in this population was 67.1% (208 of 310; 95% confidence interval [CI] 61.5, 71.9). Patients without a partner (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.470, 95% CI 1.23, 4.42), patients residing in a rural area (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.123, 5.513) and those with a history of PIH during their current pregnancy (AOR = 0.104, 95% CI 0.053, 0.014) were significantly more likely to have a spontaneous preterm birth.ConclusionThe prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth in in this study was high. Healthcare providers and all stakeholders should focus on screening pregnant women at the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.     

Visualization of uveal perfusion by contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography at a low mechanical index: a pilot animal study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography at a low mechanical index for its usefulness in visualizing uveal perfusion. METHODS: The study was performed with 9 rabbits, 6 intact and 3 with focal impaired blood flow in the uvea. Ultrasonography was performed by harmonic imaging (transmit, 5 MHz; receive, 10 MHz) with a contrast agent. The agent was administered at a dose of 50 microL/kg. Transmission power was at a mechanical index of 0.2, which is below the US Food and Drug Administration guideline. The images were compared between the impaired and intact eyes. For uveal measurements, video signal intensity-versus-time plots were generated in all cases. The plots were analyzed to obtain the rate of signal intensity increase and peak signal intensity. RESULTS: A clear increase of signal intensity was observed after contrast agent administration. The signal intensity of the uvea was lower in the impaired eye than in the intact eye. In the impaired eye, the intensity was lower on the side with impaired flow than on the other side. The differences were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that uveal perfusion can be visualized by contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography in the harmonic imaging mode at a low mechanical index.