Adenoviral vectors do not induce, inhibit, or potentiate human platelet aggregation.

Adenoviruses are commonly used as vectors in human clinical gene therapy trials. High doses of intravenous adenovirus vectors have been associated with development of thrombocytopenia of undetermined origin. Viral internalization requires the presence cell surface integrins, alpha(v)beta(3) or alpha(v)beta(5), that can blind ligands with a arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence. This sequence is found in the adenovirus penton base. Platelets express the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin and other integrins that bind the RGD sequence of ligands such as fibrinogen, laminin, vitronectin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Platelet aggregation is mediated, in part, by the binding of the RGD sequence of fibrinogen to a platelet surface integrin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa). We investigated whether adenovirus particles could interfere with or potentiate agonist-induced platelet aggregation. Incubation of platelet-rich plasma with adenovirus under stirred conditions did not promote spontaneous aggregation. The addition of physiological platelet agonists, ADP, collagen, or epinephrine, induced platelet aggregation. However, the presence of adenovirus in a wide range of concentrations did not inhibit or potentiate agonist-induced aggregation. These results suggest that the adenovirus-associated thrombocytopenia observed in vivo is independent of a direct effect of the virus on platelet aggregation.     

Postoperative convalescence after inguinal hernia surgery: Prospective randomized multicenter study of laparoscopic versus Shouldice inguinal hernia repair in 1042 patients

Interest in inguinal hernia surgery has increased significantly with the introduction of new operating techniques during the past decade. This multicenter study compared short-term results in patients treated by the laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal patch technique (TAPP; n=518) and the Shouldice technique (n=524). We evaluated demographics, operative data, complications, hospital stay, postoperative pain, use of analgesics, functional status, sick leave, and complaints up to 3 months postoperatively. The median operating time was shorter in the Shouldice group (55 vs. 65 min), but there were no significant differences in complication rates, and major complications were rare. The hospital stay was 1 day or less in over 98% of cases in both groups, but more operations were performed on outpatient basis in the Shouldice group. In the TAPP group postoperative pain and analgesic consumption were less, postoperative functional status was better, and sick leave was shorter (10 vs. 14 days). These results show that the two methods are equally safe and have few major complications. The TAPP operation is associated with less postoperative pain, better postoperative functional status, and shorter sick leave, but at the price of a longer operating time. Electronic Publication     

Carcinogenicity of dextran sulfate sodium in relation to its molecular weight

The carcinogenicity of dextran and 3 kinds of dextran sulfate sodium with different molecular weights and almost the same sulfur content were compared in ACI rats. Dextran sulfate sodium of molecular weight 54,000 showed a strong carcinogenic activity when it was given orally as 2.5% diet, whereas dextran sulfate sodium of molecular weight 520,000 and 9500 and dextran showed no significant carcinogenicity, i.e. the peak of carcinogenic activity of dextran sulfate sodium appeared at molecular weight 54,000, and dextran sulfates with larger or smaller molecular weights had no carcinogenic activity.     

Epilation of hair-bearing urethral grafts using the neodymium:YAG surgical laser

Nonhair-bearing skin should be used when grafting is necessary during urethroplasty for stricture or hypospadias repair. Occasionally, this is not possible or hair-bearing skin is used inadvertently. Traditionally, electrocoagulation has been the method used for epilation when intraluminal hair has become a problem, such as interfering with flow, as a focus for recurrent urinary tract infection or acting as a nidus for calculus formation. Electrocautery also is performed during grafting in an attempt to prevent the growth of hair when hair-bearing skin is used. Unfortunately, due to lack of penetration the hair follicles are not destroyed and the epilating procedure fails or is only partially successful. The neodymium:YAG surgical laser can photocoagulate tissue to a depth up to 5.0 mm, and thus, has the ability to destroy hair follicles. We report 4 cases presenting with clinical problems directly related to hair-bearing urethral grafts successfully treated by neodymium:YAG laser epilation.     

Esophageal pH monitoring for gastroesophageal reflux: a United Kingdom study

Esophageal pH monitoring is the accepted standard for the investigation of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in adults. A postal questionnaire was sent to 912 United Kingdom paediatric physicians & surgeons. Five hundred forty-seven (61%) replied, with 124 (22.7%) currently using the technique, mostly in conjunction with barium swallow and/or esophagoscopy. The use of pH monitoring to quantify GER was also accepted in principal as being the best determinant of reflux by a further 186 (34%), but as yet was unavailable in their hospitals. Pediatricians were also questioned as to their management of children with GER. The majority were treated medically with a variety of antireflux medication, with only 237 (42%) referring cases for surgery.     

Regulation of alcohol consumption by the renin-angiotensin system: a review of recent findings and a possible mechanism of action.

The renin-angiotensin system has traditionally been associated with the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance. In this review we summarize the data which ascribes a completely new function to this system, i.e., the regulation of alcohol consumption. In addition, we suggest a possible mechanism for this effect based on the concept of a satiety or stop process. The approach taken was to examine the effect on alcohol intake of a wide variety of drug, genetic, dietary, surgical and neurosurgical manipulations, each of which has a range of biological effects characteristic of that manipulation, but all of which share the common property of altering activity in the renin-angiotensin system. The effect of these manipulations on alcohol intake was most parsimoniously explained by reference to their ability to raise or lower activity in the renin-angiotensin system. Any intervention which modulates activity in this system, either directly or indirectly, is likely to have consequences for alcohol consumption.