Animal experiments for the evaluation of laserspectroscopy in the fetus during labor.

Laserspectroscopy with near-infrared light is newly available for clinical application. The equipment consists of a near-infrared data collection unit (NIRDCU) and a personal computer. Emission of laser light at wavelengths of 775, 805, 845 and 904 nm is provided by the four laser diodes of the NIRDCU. By analyzing changes of optical density during laser radiation, information is obtained regarding the intracellular redox state and relative changes of blood volume. During measurement with the system on the fetal scalp during delivery we were able to get a first impression of the method's potential. While the application of the laser sensors is still cumbersome, signals providing information of the relative changes of hemoglobin concentration, relative changes of blood volume and cytochrome aa3 seems achievable. Laserspectrophotometric monitors may become safe, low cost and portable instruments for the non-invasive assessment of the biochemical and biophysical status in the fetus.     

Efficacy of short‐term oral cobalamin therapy for the treatment of cobalamin deficiencies related to food‐cobalamin malabsorption: A study of 30 patients

Background: It has been suggested that oral cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) therapy may be an effective therapy for treating cobalamin deficiencies related to food‐cobalamin malabsorption. However, the duration of this treatment was not determined. Patients and method: In an open‐label, nonplacebo study, we studied 30 patients with established cobalamin deficiency related to food‐cobalamin malabsorption, who received between 250 and 1000 μg of oral crystalline cyanocobalamin per day for at least 1 month. Endpoints: Blood counts, serum cobalamin and homocysteine levels were determined at baseline and during the first month of treatment. Results: During the first month of treatment, 87% of the patients normalized their serum cobalamin levels; 100% increased their serum cobalamin levels (mean increase, +167 pg/dl; P < 0.001 compared with baseline); 100% had evidence of medullary regeneration; 100% corrected their initial macrocytosis; and 54% corrected their anemia. All patients had increased hemoglobin levels (mean increase, +0.6 g/dl) and reticulocyte counts (mean increase, +35 × 10⁶/l) and decreased erythrocyte cell volume (mean decrease, 3 fl; all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that crystalline cyanocobalamin, 250–1000 μg /day, given orally for 1 month, may be an effective treatment for cobalamin deficiencies not related to pernicious anemia.     

Neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity in articular afferents of the cat.

Dorsal root ganglion cells with axons innervating the cat's knee joint via the medial articular nerve were retrogradely labelled with Fast blue. Neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity was found in 4.5 +/- 1.1% (mean +/- S.D. of 5 nerves and 695 cells) of the articular afferents. Colchicine treatment of the ganglia increased the percentage of immunopositive cells to 8.5 +/- 0.7% (mean +/- S.D. of 6 nerves and 554 cells) after 3-22 h. The diameter distribution of the immunopositive somata ranged from 20 to 50 microns with a maximum at 26-30 microns. Comparing the proportions of neurokinin A-immunopositive cells with those of substance P, it can be calculated on the basis of mRNA encoding that neurokinin A is synthetized in about half of the substance P-containing primary articular afferents.     

Toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin in rats after single oral administration.

Five male and female rats per dose-group received 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TBDD) once on the first day of the study. Doses of 10, 33, 100, or 300 micrograms 2,3,7,8-TBDD/kg body wt. and the vehicle control were administered by gavage. About 20% of 2,3,7,8-TBDD was excreted via feces. Severe body weight retardation was observed in the 100 and 300 micrograms/kg dose-groups. Most animals in the 300 micrograms/kg dose-group and the females receiving 100 micrograms/kg showed emaciation, rough coat and a poor health (wasting syndrome). Of the animals dosed with 300 micrograms/kg, 3 males and all females died. After 100 micrograms 2,3,7,8-TBDD/kg 3 females died. Measured 4 weeks after dosing, triiodothyronine (T3) was increased and thyroxin (T4) was reduced dose dependently in serum. A dose-dependent decrease in thymus weights was observed at necropsy and histological examinations showed that thymus and spleen were depleted of mature lymphocytes. An increase in liver-to-body weight ratio was observed in all dose-groups. The histological examination revealed hypertrophy of centrilobular hepatocytes in the liver of animals treated with 100 micrograms/kg, which was less severe at the 33 micrograms/kg dose. Hypertrophic hepatocytes were also detected in some animals at the lowest dose. Induction of enzyme activities of the mixed function oxidases ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in liver tissue differed for each of the three enzymes. Two days after administration, enzyme activities were increased but did not differ substantially between dose-groups. Twenty-eight days after dosing the increase in activity after 10 micrograms/kg was largest and the EROD of the 100 micrograms/kg dose-group in females was close to that of the control. This inverse dose-response relationship may be due to impaired liver cell function at higher doses.     

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast

Zusammenfassung Grundlagen: Der Zweck war es, die Anzahl der im Mammogramm entdeckten duktalen Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) und multizentrische Karzinome aufzudecken. Die verschiedenen Methoden der Biopsie werden diskutiert. Methodik: Rastermammographie (Fokus 0,3 mm) und hochaufl?sende Sonographie (7,5 bis 10 MHz) wurden bei Brustkrebspatientinnen eingesetzt. Ergebnisse: Der Zeitraum der aufgelisteten Patientinnen erstreckt sich über 20 Jahre. Die Zahl der DCIS hat in den letzten Jahren zugenommen und betr?gt nun 18%. Die Mammographie ist hoch sensitiv für Entdeckung von Mikrokalzifikationen. Die Spezifit?t ist gering. Schlu?folgerungen: Die Anzahl der entdeckten DCIS ist in den letzten Jahren besonders angestiegen und wird auch noch weiter bei Verbesserung der mammographischen Techniken ansteigen. Diese Studie wurde vom Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institut für radiologisch-physikalische Tumordiagnostik unterstützt.