Subdural Hematoma Following Open-Heart Operations

Six patients who died following open-heart operations were found at postmortem examination to have acute subdural hematomas. On the basis of the clinical and postmortem findings, two factors in the pathogenesis of the hemorrhage are postulated. In the presence of intraoperative heparin administration, significant hematoma formation may result from damage to the bridging dural veins from minor, inadvertent head trauma or alterations in cerebral volume from fluid shifts. Manipulation of the head in patients who have been given heparin should be undertaken with extreme care, particularly in infants. In any patient with neurological dysfunction who has also had an open-heart operation, the possibility of an expanding subdural hematoma must be considered.     

Influence of cadmium on calcium transfer through the duodenal wall in rats

Five-week-old female albino rats were given different doses of cadmium chloride by gastric intubation daily for 1 (or 2) weeks. They were killed on 8th (or 15th) day of the experiment. Calcium-45 was used as marker to assess calcium transfer through and its retention in the duodenal wall by the everted gut sac method of Wilson and Wiseman. In all animals liver, kidney and femur wet weight was also determined.There was no significant difference in any of the parameters between rats receiving no cadmium and those who daily received 0.002 or 0.02 mg cadmium. Significantly increased calcium transfer was observed in rats given daily 0.2 mg of cadmium.A daily dose of 2.0 mg cadmium significantly decreased calcium transfer, an effect which was independent of whether the rats were killed on 8th or 15th day of the experiment. The same effect, with a significantly decreased uptake of ⁴⁵Ca in the duodenal wall and heavier liver was a result of administration of 15 mg of cadmium (divided in two doses).Kidneys and femurs were lighter after 7 days of treatment with 2.0 mg of cadmium, but the same cadmium dose over a fortnight produced a significant increase in the weight of kidneys.The results are discussed in the light of direct cadmium-induced membrane alterations and those which are due to inhibited activation of vitamin D.

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Zusammenfassung Fünf Wochen alte Weibchen der weißen Ratte erhielten täglich in der Dauer von einer (oder zwei) Wochen mittels der Magensonde verschiedene Dosen von Kadmiumchlorid und wurden am 8. (oder 15.) Tage des Versuches getötet. Kalzium-45 wurde zum Kennzeichnen zwecks Einsicht des Transportes von Kalzium in der Darmwand und sein Verbleiben in der Wand des Zwölffingerdarmes mittels der Methode des umgestülpten Darmsackes verwendet. Allen Versuchstieren wurde das Naßgewicht der Leber, Niere und Femur bestimmt.In keinem von diesen Parametern waren bedeutende Unterschiede zwischen den Ratten, die kein Kadmium und jenen, die täglich 0,002–0,02 mg Kadmium erhielten. Der Transport des Kalziums durch die Duodenalwand wurde bei den Ratten, die innerhalb von 7 Tagen 0,2 mg Kadmium erhielten, erheblich vergrößert.Die Dosis von 2,0 mg Kadmium täglich verminderte den Transport des Kalziums erheblich, unabhängig davon, ob die Tiere am 8. oder 15. Tag der Probe getötet wurden. Derselbe Effekt bei bedeutend verminderter Aufnahme von ⁴⁵Ca durch die Zwölffingerdarmwand und schwerere Leber wurden auch nach einer Gesamtdosis von 15 mg Kadmium (aufgeteilt in zwei Dosen) beobachtet.Die Nieren und Femur waren bei den Tieren leichter, die während 7 Tagen je 2,0 mg Kadmium erhielten, während die gleiche Dosis 14 Tage hindurch angewandt bedeutend schwerere Nieren verursachte.Die Resultate wurden im Aspekt der Veränderungen in der Membrane diskutiert, welche durch Anwendung von Kadmium — sei es direkt oder durch die Inhibition der Aktivierung von Vitamin D — entstehen.

     

Assessing donor suitability for blood donation: Utility of Geenius HIV 1/2 confirmatory assay

BackgroundBlood donor care and blood safety require a quick and accurate decision on the presence or absence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, based on the proper selection of blood donors, serological and molecular HIV testing as well as western blot test. The aim was investigating the possibility of inclusion of Geenius HIV 1/2 Confirmatory Assay in blood donor testing algorithm in order to shorten test time and decrease the number of indeterminate results.MethodsA total of 75 archived serum/plasma samples were tested. Their previous serological and molecular HIV results were: 3 negative samples, 7 positive samples, 65 serological indeterminate or positive but confirmatory testing and NAT negative samples.ResultsGeenius assay confirmed the presence of antibodies in all blood donors with HIV positive serology and Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT). HIV-1 gp160 and gp41 antibodies were detected in these donors, while p31 and p24 antibodies were not detected in two and three donors, respectively. HIV-2 antibodies gp36 and gp140 were not found. Blood donor with HIV indeterminate or positive serology but negative confirmatory testing and NAT, were negative in Geenius assay.Conclusion The results obtained are consistent with western blot results. The assay proved simple and quick to perform. Studies have confirmed the possibility of introducing Bio-Rad Geenius into a routine blood donor testing protocol.     

Evaluation of radioprotective effects of propolis and quercetin on human white blood cells in vitro

This in vitro study aimed at investigating the possible radioprotective effects of natural substances propolis and quercetin on gamma-irradiated human white blood cells. The levels of primary DNA damage were studied by the alkaline comet assay, while the cytogenetic damage was evaluated using the analysis of structural chromosome aberration and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The results obtained by all endpoints indicate acceptable toxicity profiles of propolis and quercetin in vitro, and also confirmed their radioprotective abilities. Propolis was found to be more effective in diminishing the levels of primary and more complex cytogenetic DNA damage in gamma-irradiated white blood cells. Data gathered in present study support the use of propolis and quercetin as non-toxic protective substances. However, to clarify the underlying mechanisms of their cyto/radioprotective activities, additional studies are necessary at both in vitro and in vivo levels.     

The alkaline Comet assay as biomarker in assessment of DNA damage in medical personnel occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

The alkaline Comet assay was selected as a biomarker of exposure to evaluate the ongoing exposure to ionizing radiation of 50 medical workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and 50 corresponding unexposed control subjects. The primary DNA damage was evaluated by measuring the extent of DNA migration in peripheral blood leukocytes. The inter-individual differences in DNA damage between exposed subjects were compared with their dosimeter readings and occupation. It was found that medical workers who were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation for different periods of time showed highly significant increases in levels of DNA damage compared with controls. However, influences of the different occupational settings and doses absorbed on the levels of DNA damage, assessed by use of the Comet assay, might be excluded in the majority of subjects. Differences in comet parameters measured due to smoking and gender were not statistically significant in either exposed or control subjects. The results obtained have confirmed the usefulness of the alkaline Comet assay as an additional complement to standard biodosimetric methods. By detection of momentary DNA damage and/or repair activity, it reflects the concurrent exposure and the actual levels of DNA damage present in peripheral blood leukocytes of the radiological workers at the moment of blood sampling.     

Severe progressive obstructive cardiomyopathy and renal tubular dysfunction in Donohue syndrome with decreased insulin receptor autophosphorylation due to a novel INSR mutation

Donohue syndrome (leprechaunism; OMIM *246200) is a rare, recessively inherited disorder of extreme insulin resistance due to mutations in the insulin receptor gene (INSR) causing either defects in insulin binding or receptor autophosphorylation and tyrosine kinase activity. We report a patient with pronounced clinical picture of leprechaunism who developed severe progressive hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and renal tubular dysfunction which improved on continuous subcutaneous infusion of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-I). INSR gene molecular analysis and insulin receptor (IR) autophosphorylation on cultured fibroblasts were performed. A novel homozygous missense mutation p.Leu795Pro was found, located in the extracellular portion of the β subunit of the insulin receptor. The post-binding defect of the insulin receptor signaling in cultured fibroblasts demonstrated decreased insulin receptor autophosphorylation. Conclusion: Treatment with rhIGF-I partially reversed severe progressive HOCM and renal tubular dysfunction in a patient with Donohue syndrome associated with a novel p.Leu795Pro INSR gene mutation causing a severe decrease in IR autophosphorylation.     

Tubular marker excretion in children from families with Balkan nephropathy

Balkan nephropathy (BN) has not been described in children; however, some previous studies in children from families with BN have revealed abnormalities of the urinary tract. In this study, urinary excretion of β2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was studied three times a year: spring, autumn, and winter, during a 3-year period, in 703 healthy children, initial age 9–13, from endemic and nonendemic settlements around the South Morava River. Beta-2-microglobulin excretion in urine, in all three seasons, was highest in children from families with BN compared with the excretion in children from the city, nonendemic villages, and those from nonendemic families. Increased urinary GGT excretion in children from endemic villages in October was higher than in children from the city and control villages, being the same in both endemic and nonendemic families. However, in February, it was similar in children from the city, endemic, and control villages. In conclusion, children from families with BN excreted significantly more β2-microglobulin in all three seasons (spring, autumn, winter) of the study, in multivariate analysis significant for family status, gender, and the season (p < 0.001). NAG emerged as a potentially useful marker for seasonal exposure to an environmental nephrotoxin.