Bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with unilateral vitreous base avulsion as the presenting signs of child abuse

PURPOSE: To describe a 7-year-old boy with bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and unilateral vitreous base avulsion as the presenting signs of child abuse. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: Examination demonstrated no external signs of trauma or ocular findings typically found in battered child syndrome; however, findings of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and vitreous base avulsion raised the suspicion of child abuse, which was confirmed with further history. A scleral buckle procedure and pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade were performed in the right eye followed by a similar procedure in the left eye 1 week later. CONCLUSION: Vitreous base avulsion and rhegmatogenous retinal detachments may be the only presenting signs of child abuse.     

Amniotic fluid sludge as a marker of intra-amniotic infection and histological chorioamnionitis in cervical insufficiency: a report of four cases and literature review

Amniotic fluid sludge (AFS) is defined as the presence of particulate matter in the amniotic fluid in close proximity to the cervix. Although its prevalence is known to correlate with the risk of preterm delivery, initial reports describe a strong association between AFS and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and histological chorioamnionitis. However, AFS is also present in uncomplicated pregnancies, and its prevalence appears to increase with gestational age. Recent evidence debates the usefulness of AFS as a marker of early preterm delivery risk. We present four cases with AFS diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound at admission for cervical insufficiency between 20 and 24 weeks of gestation, with confirmed lower genital tract and intra-amniotic infections by amniocentesis and histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Our findings reinforce the presence of AFS as a useful marker of MIAC, chorioamnionitis and funisitis that increase the likelihood of preterm delivery at an extreme gestational age.     

Effects of Triclosan on Neural Stem Cell Viability and Survival

Triclosan is an antimicrobial or sanitizing agent used in personal care and household products such as toothpaste, soaps, mouthwashes and kitchen utensils. There are increasing evidence of the potentially harmful effects of triclosan in many systemic and cellular processes of the body. In this study, we investigated the effects of triclosan in the survivability of cultured rat neural stem cells (NSCs). Cortical cells from embryonic day 14 rat embryos were isolated and cultured in vitro. After stabilizing the culture, triclosan was introduced to the cells with concentrations ranging from 1 μM to 50 μM and in varied time periods. Thereafter, cell viability parameters were measured using MTT assay and PI staining. TCS decreased the cell viability of treated NSC in a concentration-dependent manner along with increased expressions of apoptotic markers, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, while reduced expression of Bcl2. To explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of TCS in NSC, we measured the activation of MAPKs and intracellular ROS. TCS at 50 μM induced the activations of both p38 and JNK, which may adversely affect cell survival. In contrast, the activities of ERK, Akt and PI3K, which are positively correlated with cell survival, were inhibited. Moreover, TCS at this concentration augmented the ROS generation in treated NSC and depleted the glutathione activity. Taken together, these results suggest that TCS can induce neurodegenerative effects in developing rat brains through mechanisms involving ROS activation and apoptosis initiation.     

Antimicrobial resistance in the subgingival microflora in patients with adult periodontitis. A comparison between The Netherlands and Spain

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of antibiotics for prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial infections has lead to the emergence of resistant human pathogens. Great differences have been documented between European countries in the use of systemic antibiotics. In parallel, significant differences in levels of resistant pathogens have been documented. AIM: To investigate whether differences in antibiotic use influence the level of antimicrobial resistance of the subgingival microflora of untreated patients with adult periodontitis in The Netherlands and Spain. METHOD: Blood agar plates containing breakpoint concentrations of penicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin and clavunalate, metronidazole, erythromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline were used to determine the proportion of bacteria from the subgingival plaque that was resistant to these antibiotics. In the Spanish patients, statistically significant higher mean levels of resistance were found for penicillin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, clindamycin and tetracycline. The mean number of different bacterial species growing on the selective plates was higher in the Spanish patients, as was the % of resistant strains of most periodontal pathogens. A striking difference was observed in the frequency of occurrence of tetracycline-resistant periodontal pathogens. In Spain, 5 patients had > or =3 tetracycline resistant periodontal pathogens, whereas this was not observed in any of the Dutch patients. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread use of antibiotics in Spain is reflected in the level of resistance of the subgingival microflora of adult patients with periodontitis.     

Ethanol enhances GABAergic transmission onto dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the rat

Background:  Activation of the dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by ethanol has been implicated in its rewarding and reinforcing effects. At most central synapses, ethanol generally increases inhibitory synaptic transmission; however, no studies have explored the effect of acute ethanol on GABAergic transmission in the VTA.
Methods:  Whole-cell patch clamp recordings of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) from VTA-DA neurons in midbrain slices from young rats.
Results  Acute exposure of VTA-DA neurons to ethanol (25 to 50 mM) robustly enhanced GABAergic spontaneous and miniature IPSC frequency while inducing a slight enhancement of spontaneous IPSC (sIPSC) amplitude. Ethanol (50 mM) enhanced paired-pulse depression of evoked IPSCs, further suggesting enhanced GABA release onto VTA-DA neurons. The frequency of sIPSCs was suppressed by the GABA_B agonist, baclofen (1.25 μM) and enhanced by the antagonist, SCH50911 (20 μM); however, neither appeared to modulate or occlude the effects of ethanol on sIPSC frequency.
Conclusions:  The present results indicate that ethanol increases postsynaptic GABA_A receptor sensitivity, enhances action potential-independent GABA release onto VTA-DA neurons, and that this latter effect is independent of GABA_B auto-receptor inhibition of GABA release.     

Blood lead levels among police officers in Lima and Callao, 2004

Lead contamination is a public health problem of world-wide scope that negatively affects the health of especially women and children. Nevertheless, studies on lead contamination and its impact on health in Peru are limited. The objective of the present study was to determine blood lead levels (BLL) of traffic police officers in Lima and Callao compared with values in police officers working indoors and with data obtained in 1992. The study was performed in May-June 2004 and included 52 traffic officers and 50 officers working in police stations in the north, center and east of Lima and Callao, Peru. Both groups were of similar age. The dependent variables were arterial blood pressure and BLL obtained in each officer. In addition a questionnaire was applied to evaluate risk factors for lead exposure. In 2004, the average BLL in traffic police officers was higher (44.7+/-6.1microg/l) than that of indoor police officers (39.3+/-8.2microg/l) (p=0.0001). However, none of the police officers had BLL of over 100microg/l. No differences were observed in the location of the residences of the participants and the respective traffic density. Those over 30 years of age had a higher risk of having a BLL over 42microg/l than younger officers (odds ratio (OR)=4.45). Traffic police officers had a higher risk of BLL >42microg/l (OR=4.80). Compared with data from 1992 obtained from the literature, an important reduction has been observed in 2004. This may be a consequence of the policy to eliminate leaded gasoline in Peru. However, it is still necessary to monitor this policy to ensure the elimination of lead in gasoline.