Metaphase and anaphase analysis of V79 cells exposed to erionite, UICC chrysotile and UICC crocidolite

The cytogenetic effects of erionite treatment of V79 cells werecompared with those of UICC crocidolite and UICC chrysotiletreatment. A significant reduction in diploid cells with anaccompanying increase in aneuploid and polyploid cells was observedwith all three treatments. In the erionite-treated cultures,an increase in aneuploid was observedy at all dose levels rangingfrom 10 to 100 µg/ml, whereas in the crocidolite- andchrysotile-treated cultures, significant increases in aneuploidywere observed at all dose levels except the low dose, 10 µg/ml.Chromatid aberrations were observed in cultures treated withcrocidolite and chrysotile and were especially pronounced atdose 100 µg/ml of chrysotile. The clastogenic effect oferionite was weaker but statistically significant at dose 100µg/ml. An extrapolation of these cytogenetic changes overdose in number of fibers suggests that erionite was more reactivethan the other two minerals in producing aneuploidy. The numberof fibers required to produce a similar degree of cytogeneticeffects was several orders of magnitude higher for chrysotileand crocidolite than erionite. These results correlate withthe higher tumorigenic potency of erionite. In general, fewercells treated with erionite entered anaphase than those treatedwith the other two minerals. As a result, abnormal anaphasesrepresenting chromosomal mis-segregation were observed onlyin the chrysotile- and crocidolite-treated cultures. To ourknowledge, this is the first report on cytogenetic effects oferionite.     

Dopamine compared with dobutamine in experimental septic shock: relevance to fluid administration

The hemodynamic effects of dopamine and dobutamine (at doses of 6 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1) were compared during fluid resuscitation from septic shock induced by endotoxin (3 mg/kg) in the dog. In the first part of the study, when a standard amount of saline solution was infused (in 24 dogs), dopamine infusion resulted in higher cardiac filling pressures than did dobutamine infusion, whereas dobutamine infusion resulted in higher cardiac output. In the second part of the study, when fluid infusion was titrated to maintain pulmonary artery balloon-occluded pressure at constant level (in 24 dogs), the total amount of fluids was significantly greater with dobutamine than when dopamine was used (109 +/- 13 vs 71 +/- 10 ml/kg). The combination of dobutamine with fluids resulted in significantly greater stroke volume (39.6 +/- 3.8 vs 21.0 +/- 4.0 ml, P less than 0.05) and oxygen consumption (194 +/- 18 vs 144 +/- 8 ml/min, P less than 0.05). The different effects of dopamine and dobutamine on cardiac filling pressures can be due to differences in effects on myocardial contractility, ventricular afterload, and cardiac compliance. This experimental study indicates that when fluid therapy is combined with adrenergic agents in resuscitation from septic shock, dobutamine can be associated with higher cardiac output and oxygen transport and can result in higher tissue oxygen consumption than dopamine.     

L’électroencéphalogramme n’est pas un examen légitime pour la confirmation du diagnostic de mort cérébrale

PURPOSE: In France, legislation mandates that the clinical diagnosis of brain death be confirmed by one paraclinical test before organ donation is allowed. That test may be either the electroencephalogram (EEG) or cerebral angiography. We report a case in which the clinical diagnosis of brain death was first confirmed by two EEGs performed according to the French guidelines, but ruled out by cerebral angiography. Considering that the EEG is no longer recommended to establish the diagnosis of brain death, we discuss the relevance of maintaining the EEG for brain death diagnosis in France. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 58 yr-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit because of coma secondary to a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage with herniation below the falx shown by computed tomography. Clinical criteria of brain death were rapidly present. Two EEGs first confirmed the diagnosis but a four-vessel cerebral angiography was finally performed because the patient moved spontaneously. This cerebral angiography showed flow in the right internal carotid artery. A computed tomography performed the next day definitely confirmed the absence of brain death and organ donation did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates the limitations of the EEG for this indication and suggests that angiography should be preferred. French legislation is probably maladjusted and would benefit by incorporating guidelines of other countries like Canada. International harmonization of criteria for brain death diagnosis would also be welcome.     

不同微生物诱导家蝇幼虫表达抗菌肽的特性

研究不同微生物诱导家蝇幼虫表达的抗菌肽特性.用3种不同的病源菌通过针刺感染的方法诱导家蝇幼虫表达抗菌肽,通过Sephadex G25分离,用Hult mark改进法和抑菌圈测定法作抑菌试验,用毛细管电泳（CE）分析不同微生物诱导得到的抗菌肽样品差异,检测抗菌肽的热稳定性和酸碱耐受性.发现不同微生物诱导产生的家蝇抗菌肽具有广谱抑菌性,但不同样品对不同病源菌抑菌活性有差异,不同测定抑菌效果的方法对抑菌结果有影响,各种抗菌肽样品CE蛋白谱具有明显不同.抗菌肽样品都具有热稳定性和酸碱耐受性.说明不同微生物诱导产生的家蝇抗菌肽类型以及抗菌肽含量与诱导源有关,抗菌肽为家蝇幼虫体内固有成分,诱导增加了抗菌肽的表达量同时刺激新抗菌肽的产生.用志贺氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、鼠伤寒沙门氏菌诱导家蝇幼虫可产生较多含量高活性好的抗菌肽.     

The value of bacterial culture during clean orthopedic surgery: a prospective study of 1,036 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether bacterial cultures of the wounds of patients undergoing clean orthopedic surgery would help predict infection. METHODS: During 1 year, 1,256 cultures were performed for 1,102 patients who underwent clean orthopedic surgery. Results were analyzed to evaluate their ability to predict postoperative infection. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the cultures were 38%, 92%, 7%, and 99%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cultures performed during clean orthopedic surgery were not useful for predicting postoperative infection.     

A nationwide survey of excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease in France

To determine the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and that of dozing and sudden onset of sleep episodes (SOS) while driving in ambulatory patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in France, a national sample of private and public neurologists was asked to recruit the first 10 consecutive nondemented PD patients. Each patient completed a questionnaire including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the likelihood of dozing off and experiencing SOS episodes behind the wheel. Clinical and demographic data were collected. One thousand six hundred and twenty‐five patients with PD were included in the survey. Twenty‐nine percent of the patients suffered from EDS (ESS score ≥10) but only 0.8% declared a high chance of dozing while driving and 0.5% reported totally unpredictable SOS episodes while driving. Risk factors for EDS were male gender, reduced activity of daily living, and a high daily levodopa equivalent dosage. Risk factors for SOS episodes while driving were an ESS score ≥10, male gender, and low Hoehn and Yahr staging. EDS is common in ambulatory patients with PD and is a major risk factor for dozing and for SOS episodes behind the wheel in patients who drive. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society     

Progression of amiodarone induced cataracts

Amiodarone hydrochloride is a potent antiarrhythmic agent recently approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. Anterior subcapsular lens opacities were observed in seven of fourteen patients treated with moderate to high doses of amiodarone at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Francisco in 1982. The present report summarizes the present status of these same fourteen patients ten years later. Anterior subcapsular lens opacities developed or progressed in all patients continuing treatment with this antiarrhythmic agent during the following ten year interval. Although Snellen visual acuities are not decreased, subtle visual impairment is present as measured by contrast sensitivity measurements with and without glare. This decrease in visual acuity is not a contraindication for therapy with this potentially life saving drug.