Data on possibilities of rehabilitation of lower limb amputees

The authors investigated ways to improve the results of rehabilitation during the course of their clinical practice. During the last 2 years, amputation was performed on 136 patients and 50 patients were supplied with temporary protheses. 38 patients out of 50 answered the question form supplied. After analysis of the question form, the authors summarized the possibilities to improve the results of prolonged mobilisation and rehabilitation. This programme stresses the need for 1. early mobilisation-teaching to walk and 2. care of body and soul.     

Percent infarct mapping: an R1-map-based CE-MRI method for determining myocardial viability distribution.

Viability detection is crucial for the management of myocardial infarction (MI). Signal intensity (SI)-based MRI methods may overestimate infarct size in vivo. In contrast to SI, the longitudinal relaxation-rate enhancement (DeltaR1) is an intrinsic parameter that is linearly proportional to the concentration of contrast agent (CA). Determining DeltaR1 in the presence of an infarct-avid persistent CA (PCA) allows determination of the per-voxel percentage of infarcted tissue. Introduced here is a DeltaR1-based CE-MRI method, termed percent infarct mapping (PIM), for quantifying myocardial viability following delayed PCA accumulation. In a canine MI model (N=6), PIMs were generated using a persistent CA (PCA) and validated using triphenyltetrazolium-chloride (TTC) histochemistry. Voxel-by-voxel R1 maps of the entire left ventricle (LV) were generated 24 and 48 hr after PCA administration using inversion recovery (IR) with multiple inversion times (TIs). PI values were calculated voxel by voxel. Significant correlations (P<0.01, R=0.97) were obtained for PI per slice (PIS) determined using PIM vs. corresponding TTC-based values. Median deviations of PIS with PIM from that with TTC were only 1.01% and -0.53%, at 24 hr and 48 hr. Median deviations from the true infarction fraction (IF) were 1.23% and 0.49% of LV at 24 hr and 48 hr, respectively. No significant difference was found between PIM24 hr and PIM48 hr. DeltaR1-based PIM is an accurate and reproducible method for quantifying myocardial viability distribution, and thus enhances the clinical utility of CE-MRI.     

Ergometric stress test using Tl-201 myocardial perfusion. Tomographic or planar imaging?]

The clinical performance of the planar vs. tomographic ergometric stress 201-Tl myocard perfusion scintigraphy was compared. The results of the investigations of 80 patients were analysed retrospectively. In 59 patients planar, in 21 tomographic imaging was performed. As a consequence of clinical decision making cardiac catheterization was made in all of the patients, within 3 months after the perfusion scintigraphy. The sensitivity of the planar method was 23/27 (85%), the specificity 18/32 (56%), the accuracy 41/59 (69%). The respective values of the SPECT technique were: Sensitivity: 12/12 (100%), specificity 6/9 (66%), accuracy 18/21 (86%). It is concluded, that in comparison to the planar imaging the SPECT technique is superior in the detection of the perfusion abnormalities of the myocard due to significant coronary narrowings.     

Isolation and characterization of IgG2a-reactive autoantibodies from influenza virus-infected BALB/c mice

Repeated influenza virus infection induces the production of dominantly IgG2a-type virus-specific antibodies as well as the appearance of IgG2a-reactive autoantibodies in BALB/c mice characterized by low spontaneous rheumatoid factor-type autoantibody production. IgG2a-reactive autoantibody-producing hybridomas could be isolated from the spleen of influenza virus-infected BALB/c mice. The mAb produced by these clones represent not only IgM but also IgG and IgA isotypes and show strong isotype or isoallotype specificity. The common functional property of these autoantibodies is their preferential- and high-affinity binding to complexed, solid-phase-bound or heat-aggregated IgG2a when compared to native soluble or cell-bound IgG2a. The mechanism of induction and the possible biological function of these autoantibodies are discussed in the light of their fine specificity and functional properties.     

Immunohistochemical studies in contaminated small bowel syndrome

This study was undertaken to evaluate the number of the immunoglobulin producing cells in the lamina propria of the small intestine by immunocytochemical techniques, using peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) complex in normacid patients with CSBS. 25 patients were studied including 13 patients with bacterial overgrowth, where the bacterial concentration was higher than 10(4) colony forming units/ml, and 12 subjects with normal bacterial concentration, served as control. The patients with CSBS were treated with antibiotics according to the antibiotic resistance. After treatment the luminal bacterial concentrations was lower than 10(4) cfu/ml in 7 of 13 patients (CSBS I. group). In 6 patients the bacterial concentration remained high (CSBS II. group). The immunoglobulin producing cells were determined in biopsy specimens taken from the lower part of duodenum. The number of the IgA and IgM producing immunocytes was significantly decreased only in the CSBS II. group. Our results show that temporary immunological alterations may play an important role in the mechanism of the recurrent CSBS.     

Chromosome aberration,sister-chromatid exchange,proliferative rate index,and serum thiocyanate concentration in smokers exposed to low-dose benzene

Cytogenetical endpoints, i.e., chromosome aberration (CA), sister-chromatid exchange (SCE), and proliferative rate indexes (PRI), were measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 42 workers exposed occupationally to low-dose benzene, and of 42 controls. The role of smoking habit as a confounding factor of genotoxic effects caused by occupational low-dose benzene exposure was also studied. The benzene concentrations in the ambient air samples varied from 3 to 20 mg/m³ (mean: 7 mg/m³). The continuous low-dose benzene exposure significantly increased the CA and SCE frequencies, but did not influence PRI. Smoking levels were characterized by subjective accounts and by serum thiocyanate concentrations (SCN). CA and SCE were not significantly increased in smokers compared to nonsmokers, but the differences were expressed to a greater extent in the case of measurement of SCN concentrations. Determination of SCN proved to be more objective in the assessment of genotoxic effects of smoking as a confounding factor of occupational low-dose benzene exposure. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synergism or antagonism between estradiol and progesterone on the cell kinetic parameters of the MXT mouse mammary tumor

With the use of an in vivo tritiated thymidine ([3H]dThd) nuclear labeling followed by autoradiography, the effects at different times before sacrifice of single or paired injections of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and/or progesterone (Pg), at different concentrations, were studied in (C57BL x DBA/2f)F1 (B6D2F1) mice transplanted with the MXT hormone-sensitive mammary tumor. Uteri were chosen as controls for the methodology. With regard to MXT tumors, E2 (0.25, 2.50, or 25.00 micrograms/animal) or Pg (125, 600, or 5,000 micrograms/animal) exerts almost a similar mitogenic influence that is dose related to the former and nor for the later, at least within the range of concentrations studied here; and the mitogenic effect of Pg seems to appear earlier than that of E2. When these steroids are concomitantly given, no obvious synergistic or antagonistic effect can be observed. A second E2 administration seems to have a less pronounced effect on cell proliferation as compared to that exerted by the first injection performed 12 or 24 hours earlier. On the contrary, the repetition of a Pg treatment would rather exert an additive or even a synergistic effect on the tumoral dThd labeling indices with regard to the total duration of stimulation. When one of these two steroids is administered first, it blocks totally the mitogenic effect of the second, provided the latter is given 24 hours later. It is concluded that E2 and Pg have almost a similar mitogenic effect on the MXT tumor and that these hormones exert complex interactions that are probably very important for the growth regulation of this cancer. Further investigations are needed to better understand the precise biochemical mechanisms involved in the modulating actions of these steroids on the MXT mammary growth.     

Improved method for the adjustment of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid concentration

The work was aimed at finding whether the ratio of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and creatinine (Cn) concentration (ALA/Cn), presently used in occupational health practice for evaluation of lead exposure gives a better assessment of ALA excretion than uncorrected ALA concentration itself, as well as at finding a better, but not complicated method for adjustment. ALA and Cn concentrations were measured in untimed urine samples of altogether 390 men and women (age: 18-60 years) not occupationally exposed to lead. In agreement with others, ALA/Cn was found to be an unsuitable method of adjustment for the differences in ALA concentration due to the different concentrations of samples. This can be explained by the different renal handling of ALA and Cn, proved by the literature data. The exponential relationship between ALA/Cn and Cn concentration raised the possibility of adjustment to the logarithm of Cn concentration (ALA/log.Cn). This simple method provided a more reliable index, the value of which was independent of the actual Cn concentration of urines within a wide range (2-32 mmol/liter). The recommended biological limit value (70 mumol/log.Cn mmol) separates equally well from normal values, both in dilute and concentrated urines. The evaluation of occupational lead exposure might be more reliable using this index, instead of uncorrected ALA concentration or the ALA/Cn ratio.