L-carnitine in experimental retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury

The effect of L-carnitine on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was evaluated in guinea pigs. 90 min of pressure-induced retinal ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion was established in both eyes of 2 groups of animals receiving either L-carnitine (100 mg/kg repeated in 5 doses) or saline intraperitoneally. After enucleation of all the eyes, including those of a control group, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels and the thickness of the retinal tissue were measured in 3 groups. The mean MDA value and the tissue thickness of the L-carnitine-treated group were statistically insignificant versus the control group (p > 0.05 and p > 0.05, respectively). However, these values were significantly different in the group receiving saline versus the control group and that receiving L-carnitine (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively). L-Carnitine might be an alternative drug for ischemia-reperfusion injury of the retina.     

The effects of methidathion on lipid peroxidation and some liver enzymes: role of vitamins E and C

Methidathion (MD) [ O, O-dimethyl S-(2,3-dihydro-5-methoxy-2-oxo-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3-ylmethyl) phosphorodithioate] is one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides (OPIs) in agriculture and public health programmes. We have, therefore, examined the in vivo and in vitro effects of MD on the serum activities of cholinesterase (ChE), enzymes concerning liver damage and lipid peroxidation (LPO; only in vivo), and have evaluated the ameliorating effects of a combination of vitamins E and C against MD toxicity. The in vivo experimental groups were: control group, MD-treated group (MD), and a group treated with MD plus vitamin E plus vitamin C (MD+Vit). The MD and MD+Vit groups were treated orally with a single dose of 8 mg MD/kg body weight at 0 h. Vitamin E and vitamin C were injected at doses of 150 mg/kg body weight i.m. and 200 mg/kg body weight i.p., respectively, 30 min after the treatment with MD in the MD+Vit group. Blood samples were taken 24 h after the MD administration. For in vitro study, venous blood samples were obtained from volunteers, and serum recovered. The activities of serum enzymes were determined in each sample and these served as 0 h values. Each sample was divided into four portions, each of which served as one of the experimental groups, as follows: control group, vitamin E plus vitamin C group (Vit), MD-treated group (MD) and MD plus vitamin E plus vitamin C group (MD+Vit). Vitamin E and vitamin C were added at doses of 7.5 and 10 micro g/ml, respectively, into the Vit and MD+Vit groups. MD was added at doses of 0.4 mg/ml into the MD and MD+Vit groups. The activities of serum enzymes were determined in each sample at 24 h. The results of the in vivo experiment demonstrated that thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were increased in the MD group compared with the control group, and decreased in the MD+Vit group compared with MD group. ChE activity was decreased in both MD and MD+Vit groups compared with controls and increased in the MD+Vit group compared with the MD group. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased in both the MD and MD+Vit groups compared with the control group. AST activity was decreased in MD+Vit group compared with the MD group. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was decreased in both the MD and MD+Vit groups compared with control group. The results of in vitro experiment showed that all enzyme activities remained unchanged in both the control and Vit groups compared with values at 0 h. The activities of ChE, ALT and LDH were decreased in both the MD and MD+Vit groups compared with 0 h values. There was no significant difference between the MD and MD+Vit groups. The activities of AST, ALP and GGT remained unchanged in all groups. From these results, it can be concluded that MD caused liver damage, and LPO may be one of the molecular mechanisms involved in MD-induced toxicity. Single-dose treatment with a combination of vitamins E and C after the administration of MD can reduce LPO caused by MD.     

Effects of the electromagnetic field of mobile telephones on hearing

The widespread use of mobile telephones has given rise to concern about the potential influences of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human health. Anatomically, the ear is in close proximity to the mobile telephone during use. Hearing loss due to mobile telephone use has not been described in the medical literature; however, if there is a subtle cochlear involvement, it might be detected by means of changes in evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Thirty volunteers with normal hearing were exposed to mobile telephone EMFs for 10 min and evoked OAEs were measured before and after exposure. No measurable change in evoked OAEs was detected and none of the subjects reported a deterioration in hearing level. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the effects of EMFs emitted by mobile telephones on hearing. It was concluded that a 10-min exposure to the EMF emitted from a mobile telephone had no effect on hearing, at least at outer ear, middle ear and cochlear levels.     

Comparison of nickel patch test reactivity in phases of the menstrual cycle

BACKGROUND: In earlier studies, it has been shown that severity of some diseases varies with menstrual cycle. Severity of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, infections due to herpes virus, urticaria and acne were also reported to increase in the premenstrual phase. Effect of estradiol on the cellular immune system was investigated and it was found to depress the cellular immune response. In our study, we investigated whether nickel patch test reactivity was different during phases of the menstrual cycle and whether there was an increase in sensitivity to nickel during the premenstrual cycle in nickel-sensitive women. METHODS: The study consisted of 30 women who had a history of nickel sensitivity. Finn Chamber nickel patch test was applied to all 30 women by dividing them into two groups of 15 and applying the test first on days 7-10 and then on days 20-24 of the menstrual cycle or vice versa. RESULTS: The reactions of both the groups on days 20-24 were more severe than those on days 7-10 even though the results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogens not only impair the skin barrier but also have a negative impact on the immune system. Estradiol has been proved to suppress cellular immunity. In a few studies conducted to date, the relationship between phases of the menstrual cycle and the severity of patch test reactivity has been examined with equivocal results. In our study, we observed that the presence of reactions due to nickel sensitivity was independent of the phases of the menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, we would like to point out the fact that the reactions seen in the second phase of the menstrual cycle were more severe than those seen in the first phase.     

Criteria for judging the improvement in subclinical rheumatic valvitis

Recent technical improvements in cross-sectional echocardiography have made it possible to detect even mild organic regurgitation of the mitral and aortic valves in patients with acute rheumatic fever. To determine the prevalence and prognosis of subclinical valvitis, we have analyzed 104 patients with acute rheumatic fever referred to our institution. Of 53 patients who had no murmur, 22 of them with polyarthritis, 29 with chorea, and 2 with polyarthritis and chorea, 23 (43.4%) had subclinical valvitis. Isolated mitral regurgitation was the most common valvar lesion, seen in 82.6% of the patients. Isolated aortic regurgitation was detected in 4.4% of the cases, and combined mitral and aortic regurgitation in the remaining 13%. During follow-up, the degree of mitral regurgitation improved in 59.1%, decreased in 18.2%, and increased or remained unchanged in 22.7% according to the length of colour jet. According to criterions of velocity, mitral regurgitation improved in 86.4% of the patients, and increased or unchanged in the remaining 13.6%. Mitral regurgitation disappeared completely in 6 of the patients (27.3%) as judged according to both the length of colour jet and the velocity of regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation improved in all the patients with this problem, disappearing completely in two of the four. Based on this experience, we suggest that not only the disappearance of regurgitation, but also improvements in the echocardiographic diagnostic criterions of regurgitation, such as the length of the colour jet less than 1 cm, or velocity less than 2.5 m/s, or indicative of regurgitation that is either intermittent or of short duration, should also be considered as criterions indicating improvement in valvar regurgitation in patients with subclinical rheumatic valvitis.     

Treatment of a fistula at the distal anastomosis after Bentall operation with endoluminal covered stent

A 25-year-old Marfan patient was operated on for an acute type A aortic dissection that was complicated twice by false aneurysms at the distal suture line. At the third episode a covered endoprosthesis was inserted in the ascending aorta between the coronary ostia and the inominate artery. The postoperative course was uneventful and a control computed tomographic scan showed complete occlusion of the false aneurysm.

This attractive technique should be considered versus an open-heart operation in selected patients.     

Glutaric aciduria type I diagnosed after poliovirus immunization: magnetic resonance findings

Glutaric aciduria type I is an uncommon inborn error of metabolism. It is a serious disease, often with a fatal outcome. Magnetic resonance imaging findings and the clinical course of monozygotic twin females with glutaric aciduria type I who were admitted with acute encephalopathic crisis symptoms 3 days after immunization for poliovirus are presented in this report. Magnetic resonance imaging findings revealed hyperintensity in the putamen, head of the left caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus, periventricular white matter (on T₂-weighted images), arachnoid cysts in bilateral temporal regions, and enlargement of the sylvian fissures. Glutaric aciduria type I should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute encephalopathic crisis occurring shortly after poliovirus immunization. Typical magnetic resonance findings guide urinary organic acid analysis in these patients.     

Prolidase deficiency

A 32‐year‐old mentally retarded woman was admitted to hospital with recurrent ulcers on her legs, which appeared for the first time at 8 years of age. Apart from recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and chronic otitis media, her personal history was unremarkable. Her parents were second‐degree relatives. The family history showed no similar disease or mental retardation. Physical examination revealed that the patient had an unusual facial appearance, with a high‐arched palate; she had multiple tooth caries ( Fig. 1 ).

Figure Figure 1  Open in figure viewer PowerPoint Facial appearance of the patient