BookReviews

Annals of Vascular Surgery -     

Direct effect of acute metabolic and respiratory acidosis on parathyroid hormone secretion in the dog.

Because both metabolic (Met Acid) and respiratory acidosis (Resp Acid) have diverse effects on mineral metabolism, it has been difficult to establish whether acidosis directly affects parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Our goal was to determine whether acute Met Acid and Resp Acid directly affected PTH secretion. Three groups of dogs were studied: control, acute Met Acid induced by HCl infusion, and acute Resp Acid induced by hypoventilation. EDTA was infused to prevent acidosis-induced increases in ionized calcium, but more EDTA was needed in Met Acid than in Resp Acid. The PTH response to EDTA-induced hypocalcemia was evaluated also. Magnesium needed to be infused in groups receiving EDTA to prevent hypomagnesemia. The half-life of intact PTH (iPTH) was determined during hypocalcemia when PTH was measured after parathyroidectomy. During normocalcemia, PTH values were greater (p < 0.05) in Met Acid (92 +/- 19 pg/ml) and Resp Acid (77 +/- 22 pg/ml) than in controls (27 +/- 5 pg/ml); the respective pH values were 7.23 +/- 0.01, 7.24 +/- 0.01, and 7.39 +/- 0.02. The maximal PTH response to hypocalcemia was greater (p < 0.05) in Met Acid (443 +/- 54 pg/ml) than in Resp Acid (267 +/- 37 pg/ml) and controls (262 +/- 48 pg/ml). The half-life of PTH was greater (p < 0.05) in Met Acid than in controls, but the PTH secretion rate also was greater (p < 0.05) in Met Acid than in the other two groups. In conclusion, (1) both acute Met Acid and Resp Acid increase PTH secretion when the ionized calcium concentration is normal; (2) acute Met Acid may increase the bone efflux of calcium more than Resp Acid; (3) acute Met Acid acts as a secretogogue for PTH secretion because it enhances the maximal PTH response to hypocalcemia.     

Mutational analysis of HOXD13 and HOXA13 genes in the triphalangeal thumb-brachyectrodactyly syndrome.

The triphalangeal thumb-brachyectrodactyly syndrome is a very rare autosomal dominant disorder of unknown etiology characterized by an unusual pattern of limb malformations: triphalangeal thumbs and brachyectrodactyly in the hands, and ectrodactyly in the feet. In a previous report, we described the clinical and radiographical features of three related subjects with the disease and suggest that due to the unusual combination of limb defects and to its phenotypic similarity with the limb malformative pattern induced by disrupting the Hoxd13 gene in mouse, the triphalangeal thumb-brachyectrodactyly syndrome might be caused by mutations in a HOX gene. After sequencing the entire coding region of HOXD13 and the highly conserved homeodomain encoding region of HOXA13, we do not detect any deleterious mutation in any of the patients excluding that alterations at these sequences are responsible for the disease. Mutations in regulatory regions of these genes or in other genes involved in limb development might be responsible for the disease.     

Pr?senile Demenz bei polyzystischer lipomembran?ser Osteodysplasie

Wir berichten über den ersten Fall von polyzystischer lipomembran?ser Osteodysplasie oder “brain, bone and fat disease” in Deutschland. Die nach dem Erstbeschreibern auch als Morbus J?rvi-Hakola-Nasu bezeichnete Erkrankung ist bisher vor allem in Japan und in Finnland beschrieben worden. Einzelne F?lle wurden aus Schweden, Norwegen, Italien, Südafrika, Belgien und den USA berichtet. Im deutschsprachigen Raum ist bisher ein Fall aus ? ver?ffentlicht worden.     

Erythroleukemia with high fetal hemoglobin after therapy for ovarian carcinoma

The authors report the association of erythroleukemia (FAB M6) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) level of at least 65% after therapy for ovarian carcinoma. The patient's erythrocytes had many signs of reversion to fetal-like erythropoiesis including: elevated HbF with a fetal G gamma/A gamma (gly/ala) of 3/1, low hemoglobin A2 (HbA2), macrocytosis, and increased i antigen. These data and data from other case reports suggest that elevation of HbF to greater than 25% with reversion to fetal-like erythropoiesis is useful in differentiating erythroleukemia from other preleukemic disorders.     

Efficacy of radiology of the esophagus for evaluation of dysphagia

The efficacy of radiology in evaluating dysphagia was studied in 86 patients by comparison to endoscopic findings. In the 66 patients with endoscopic abnormalities radiology was correct in 54, for a sensitivity of 82%. Sensitivity of radiology improved to 95% if mild esophagitis was excluded. In the 20 patients with normal endoscopy, radiology was normal in 18 (90%). Thus radiology proved to be a reliable means of evaluating the esophagus in patients with dysphagia.     

Ranitidine influences the uptake of oral midazolam.

In a randomised crossover study in volunteers plasma midazolam levels were estimated for 24 h following 15 mg by mouth, either preceded by no medication or following 24 h therapy with ranitidine. Administration of the H2-receptor blocker significantly increased bioavailability of the benzodiazepine and resulted in higher plasma levels for the first 6 h after taking midazolam. This was accompanied by a greater soporific effect.     

Developing a model for clinical and basic science teaching skills

This report describes a model for identifying sets of teaching abilities considered to be effective for medical school teaching staff, based on roles teachers assume and functions they are expected to perform as instructors. The specification of these teaching abilities was the first step in the development of a comprehensive course on Medical Instruction at the Basic Institute of Medical and Agricultural Biology of the State University of Sao Paulo, Botucatu, Brazil, where the senior author is employed. The work was based on the assumption that medical school teachers are expected to assume a variety of teaching roles and that identification and specification of the abilities that define their roles can result in more effective and efficient teaching.