XY gonadal dysgenesis associated with hGH and gonadotrophin deficiencies

A girl of remarkably short stature, referred for investigation with the diagnosis of gonadal dysgenesis and the finding of a male karyotype, proved to be deficient in growth hormone and gonadotrophin secretion, and was treated with growth and sex hormones. It was concluded that this case demonstrates an apparently casual coincidence of pituitary insufficiency with XY gonadal dysgenesis, evidently the first to be reported.     

Risk factors for systemic illnesses following agricultural exposures to restricted organophosphates in California, 1984–1988

Organophosphate (OP)-related systemic illnesses reported to the Worker Health and Safety (WH&S) Branch, and restricted OP-related agricultural use data reported to the Information Services Branch at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) (now CAL-EPA) during 1984–1988 were used to assess factors associated with OP-related systemic illnesses. Counts of OP-related systemic illnesses (numerator), relative to OP-related use data (denominator), such as pounds applied, number of applications, and acres treated (pounds applied/acres treated), were analyzed by crop treated, season of application, method of application, geographic region, and by specific OP applied. A Relative Illness/Use Ratio (RIUR) was calculated by Poisson regression. The highest risk of systemic illness was associated with OP applications to fleshy fruit (mainly fruit trees) compared to all other crops combined (RIUR = 2.9, 95%CI = 2.2–3.9) using pounds applied in the denominator, followed by vegetables and melons (RIUR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.4–2.4). Air applications resulted in higher RIURs for systemic illness than did ground applications (RIUR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.7–2.5). Specific OPs that showed significantly elevated RIURs for systemic illness when compared to other OPs were Mevinphos (RIUR = 5.8, 95%CI = 5.0–6.8). Demeton (RIUR = 4.3, 95%CI = 2.6–7.1). Oxydemeton-Methyl (RIUR = 3.8 95%CI = 3.0–4.9). Methamidophos (RIUR = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.2–2.0) and Azinphos-Methyl (RIUR = 1.3, 95%CI = 1.1–1.6). Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:572–579, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Case report 655

We describe a patient with the rare autosomal dominant syndrome of congenital glenoid dysplasia. The severity of the findings resulted in an intense and effective radiological and clinical work-up including MRI, CT reconstruction, and fluoroscopy.     

Hypertension and neuronal degeneration in excised rat spinal cord studied by high-b value q-space diffusion magnetic resonance imaging

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors of stroke and vascular dementia (VaD). We used stroke prone spontaneous hypertensive rats (SPSHRs) as a model for neuronal degeneration frequently occurring in humans with vascular disease. Recently, high b value q-space diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was shown to be very sensitive to the pathophysiological state of the white matter. We studied the spinal cords of SPSHR rats ex vivo after the appearance of motor impairments using diffusion anisotropy and q-space diffusion imaging (measured at a high b value of up to 1 x 10(5) s/mm(2)). The diffusion anisotropy images computed from low b value data set (b(max) approximately 2500 s/mm(2)) showed a small but statistically significant decrease (approximately 12%, P < 0.05) in the diffusion anisotropy in the spinal cords of the SPSHR group as compared to control rats. However, more significant changes were found in the high b value q-space diffusion images. The q-space displacement values in the white matter of the SPSHR group were found to be higher by more than 70% (P < 0.002) than that of the control group. These observations concurred with electron microscopy (EM) that showed significant demyelination in the spinal cords of the SPSHR group. These results seem to indicate that high b value q-space DWI might be a sensitive method for following demyelination and axonal loss associated with vascular insults.     

The effect of dl-propranolol,d-propranolol and practolol on the hyperactivity induced in rats by prolonged isolation

Exploratory behaviour in an open field situation was found to be greatly increased in rats, isolated for 6–8 weeks, when compared with grouphoused controls. Propanolol, dl- and d- and practolol, 0.2–0.5 mg/kg reduced hypermotility, sniffing and rearing in isolated rats without affecting behaviour of group-housed rats. 20 mg/kg dl-propanolol was needed to reduce exploratory behaviour of group housed rats. Chlorpromazine reduced activity of isolated rats at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, and group housed rats at 0.5–1 mg/kg. The action of propranolol does not appear to result from central receptor blockade because of the almost equal activity of d- and dl-propranolol. Since practolol was also active in this test, the effect of these drugs also does not appear to result from general C.N.S. depression. It is suggested that these compounds may reduce hyperactivity by diminishing an excessive release of central catecholamines.This work forms part of a Ph.D. Thesis by Z. Speiser to be submitted to Tel-Aviv University.     

Reduction by propranolol of raised urinary output of MHPG in hyperactive rats

Prolonged isolation of rats resulted in hyperactivity in the open field and a significant increase in 24 hr urinary excretion of MHPG (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol). Exploratory activity of group-housed rats in open field was not associated with raised MHPG excretion, compared with that of rats remaining in home cages. Exposure of group-housed rats to 4°C for 2 hr also increased urinary excretion of MHPG. Pretreatment of isolated rats with dl-, d-propranolol or practolol abolished hyperactivity of isolated rats and reduced MHPG output in these rats and in rats exposed to cold. dl-Propanolol did not reduce activity of grou-housed rats in open field or their urinary excretion of MHPG. It is suggested that propranolol may have a selective inhibitory effect on stress-induced increases in noradrenaline turnover.     

Sleep-wake patterns in preterm infants and 6 month's home environment: implications for early cognitive development

AIMS: This study examined the relationship between early organization of sleep-wake states and developmental outcome at 6-month-old premature infants. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized study that evaluated the sleep-wake states of healthy premature infants in the nursery environment for two successive 72-h periods, at 32 and 36 weeks gestational age. SUBJECTS: Thirty-four healthy premature infants. OUTCOME MEASURES: Three sleep-wake parameters: percent of quiet sleep, activity level and total amount of sleep, were studied with miniature activity monitors attached to the infant's ankles. The rearing environments of the infants were also assessed at 6 months of age, using the HOME Inventory. Finally, child developmental status was recorded by means of the Mental Development Index (MDI) of the Bayley Scales for Infant Development, at a chronological age of 6 months. RESULTS: Lower total time spent in night sleep, higher mean level of night activity level, and a later rich home environment were all predictive of higher Bayley scores (MDI) at a chronological age of 6 months. Regression analysis indicated that early biological maturity was more strongly related to the child's developmental status than later home environment, although both contributed to the prediction. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that biological factors may be significant predictors early in development, whereas the impact of environmental influences increases with development.     

Relationship between night myopia and night-time motor vehicle accidents

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between night myopia and the occurrence of night-time motor vehicle accidents in a group of professional drivers. METHODS: We examined 136 professional drivers. Refraction was determined in full illumination (100 cd/m2) and after sitting in darkness for 5 mins. The change in refraction, indicative of night myopia, was correlated with the number of motor vehicle accidents in which each driver was involved (detailed in their personal files) and with the results of a visual complaints questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 21.0 years. Mean spherical refraction changed from + 0.11 dioptres (D) in light to -0.17 D after dark adaptation for 5 mins. Night myopia was found in 34 drivers (25%), at a mean of -1.2 D (range -0.75 D to -3.50 D). There was no statistically significant difference between these drivers and the rest of the group in the results of the visual complaints questionnaire, or in the number of accidents occurring during the day. However, drivers with a myopic shift > 0.75 D were involved in more accidents at night than the rest of the group (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, drivers with night myopia of > 0.75 D were more likely to be involved in night-time accidents. This may imply that selected groups of drivers should be examined for night myopia.     

Concanavalin a receptors on the surface membrane of lymphocytes from patients with acute leukemia

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) isolated from 23 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 24 with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were studied for binding and mobility of Concanavalin A (Con A) receptors, using fluorescent Con A (F-Con-A). The cap forming ability of PBM from all patients was 18.7 (± 9.3%) and 18.9 (± 9.9%) for ANLL patients at the time of diagnosis or during relapse. During clinical complete remission the cap forming ability of the PBM did not change significantly. No correlation was observed between the percentage of blasts present in the peripheral blood at the time of examination and the extent of cap formation, for both types of leukemia.The pattern of F-Con-A binding to PBM in ANLL patients was different compared to that seen in ALL. In ANLL, the fluorescent stain was concentrated in a round body on the cell (“button form”) after binding to the membrane, while the rest of the cell showed almost no fluorescence. The present results indicate that PBM cells from patients with acute leukemia are characterized by a high degree of Con-A receptor mobility.