Length polymorphism of heterochromatic segment of the Y chromosome in boys with acute leukemia

The extent of length polymorphisms of the heterochromatic and euchromatic segment of the human Y chromosome were investigated in 15 boys with acute leukemia and were compared with 15 normal controls. A greater value of the Yh/F index in relation to controls was established (P < 0.05). The length of the euchromatic segment was also shorter in the patients than the controls (P < 0.05).     

Effects on Plasma Glucose Concentration of Light-for-date Infants and Infants of Diabetic Mothers of Feeds Supplemented with a Glucose Polymer

ABSTRACT. Serial plasma glucose estimations were performed in 44 light-for-date infants and 17 infants of diabetic mothers fed 2, 3 or 4-hourly with feeds containing 10 % additional carbohydrate in the form of a glucose polymer (Caloreen). In the infants fed 2 and 3-hourly, plasma glucose was higher following the high carbohydrate feeds, particularly immediately before the next feed was due. Given 4-hourly, the high carbohydrate feed had little effect in most light-for-date infants, and in one light-for-date infant and two infants of diabetic mothers the plasma glucose was lower at the end of 4 hours than following normal formula. It is concluded that the addition of glucose polymer to feeds given 2 and 3 hourly has a potentially useful effect in neonates at risk of developing hypoglycaemia, but it cannot be used to increase the feed interval to 4 hours.     

Anatomical and physiological bases of labor onset

The induction of labor involves a series of complex mechanisms, the control of which is only partially explained in humans. It is accepted today that the maturing of the uterine cervix is independent of the onset of uterine contractions. These two phenomena are regulated by a complex system where prostaglandins play a key role.     

Pharyngeal diverticula

A series of 73 hypopharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticula is reported and the choice of treatment and technique of excision are discussed. The problems of excision include operation on an infected site with limited access but few patients are unfit for the procedure. Preoperatively the sac should be packed and the oesophagus stented. The side of approach is unimportant as the condition is essentially midline. Cricopharyngeal myotomy appears to reduce the recurrence rate, possibly by improving coordination of pharyngeal contraction and upper oesophageal relaxation. The use of electrocoagulation is not recommended as 20% of patients require repeated general anaesthesia and the procedure fails in 13%. For all but the smallest pouches, excision is the treatment of choice.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of fused 1, 2, 4-triazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxaline and oxopyrimido[2', 1':5, 1]-1, 2, 4-triazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxaline derivatives

A new series of potential antibacterial agents having tricyclic 1, 2, 4-triazolo-[4, 3-a] quinoxaline fused with one or more heterocyclic rings was synthesized via several routes. The tricyclic 1-amino-4-chloro-1, 2, 4-triazolo[4, 3-a] quinoxaline (2 ) and tetracyclic 1, 6-diamino-bis-1, 2, 4-triazolo[4, 3-a:3, 4-c] quinoxaline (3) were synthesized from 2, 3-dichloroquinoxaline (1) with two or four equivalents of thiosemicarbazide, respectively. Compound 2 was allowed to react with different aldehydes, alkoxides, cyclic amines, phenyl isothiocyanate, and t-butyl isocyanate to afford the corresponding quinoxaline derivatives. Moreover, compound 2 reactedwithhydrazine hydrate to give compound 4 which was cyclized by carbondisulfide inalcoholic potassium hydroxide to give the tetracyclic compound 5. Compound 2 was subjected to another cyclocondensation reaction using diethyl ethoxymethylene malonate (DEMM), dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), and ethyl cyanoacetate to give the tetracyclic compounds 18, 20, and 21, respectively. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activity; compounds 18 and 20 were found to display the greatest antibacterial activities. Structural identification was provided by elemental analyses, IR, and (1)H-NMR spectroscopy.     

Quantitative analysis of uvular muscles in cases of simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: an image analysis study

Studies on the histopathological changes of the palatine muscles in cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and simple snoring are controversial, while some authors confirm the presence of muscle hypertrophy and increase in total muscle bulk (obstructive theory), others deny this confirming the presence of muscle atrophy and decrease in the muscle bulk (neurogenic theory), but all these studies depended on subjective observer dependent methods to calculate the muscle bulk. We are carrying a unique study to calculate the muscle bulk in uvular specimens in ten cases of OSA comparing it to ten cases with simple snoring and controls using digital computer dependent software (image analysis). Cases of OSA are associated with definite increase in the total muscle bulk of the palatine muscles when compared to cases of simple snoring and controls. Uvular muscular hypertrophy and the obstructive theory seem to explain the pathophysiology of OSA.