Epidural haematoma after evacuation of contralateral subdural haematoma

Background Sequentially evolving intracranial bilateral haematomas, where the second haematoma develops after the surgical removal of the first one is rarely reported. Aim To report a patient who developed an epidural haematoma after evacuation of a contralateral subdural haematoma. Methods A 49-year-old male was admitted to our department after head injury. A brain computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed an acute subdural haematoma in the right temporal area which was evacuated. During his stay in the intensive care unit, he was submitted to intracranial pressure monitoring, which soon rose. Results A new CT scan showed an acute epidural haematoma in the contralateral parietal area that was also evacuated. Conclusions While rising intracranial pressure after the evacuation of a traumatic haematoma is usually attributed to brain oedema or recurrent haematoma at the craniotomy site, the development of a contralateral epidural haematoma requiring surgical treatment should not be overlooked.     

The N2-ethylguanine and the O6-ethyl- and O6-methylguanine lesions in DNA: contrasting responses from the "bypass" DNA polymerase eta and the replicative DNA polymerase alpha

The effects of N(2)-ethylGua, O(6)-ethylGua, and O(6)-methylGua adducts in template DNA on polymerization by mammalian DNA polymerases alpha and eta have been investigated. The N(2)-ethylGua adduct blocks polymerization by the replicative DNA polymerase alpha to a much greater extent than does the O(6)-ethyl- or the O(6)-methylGua adducts. The DNA polymerase eta efficiently and accurately bypasses the N(2)-ethylGua lesion but like DNA polymerase alpha is similarly blocked by the O(6)-ethyl- or the O(6)-methylGua adducts. A steady state kinetic analysis of nucleotide insertion opposite the N(2)-ethylGua and the O(6)-ethylGua adducts by the DNA polymerases alpha and eta and extension from 3'-termini positioned opposite these adducts was performed to measure the efficiency and the accuracy of DNA synthesis past these lesions. This analysis showed that insertion of Cyt opposite the N(2)-ethylGua adduct by DNA polymerase alpha is approximately 10(4)-fold less efficient than insertion of Cyt opposite an unadducted Gua residue at the same position. Extension from the N(2)-ethylGua:Cyt 3'-terminus by DNA polymerase alpha is approximately 10(3)-fold less efficient than extension from a Cyt opposite the unadducted Gua. Insertion of Cyt opposite the N(2)-ethylGua lesion by the DNA polymerase eta is about 370-fold more efficient than by the DNA polymerase alpha, and extension from the N(2)-ethylGua:Cyt 3'-terminus by the DNA polymerase eta is about 3-fold more efficient than by the DNA polymerase alpha. Furthermore, the DNA polymerase eta preferably inserts the correct nucleotide Cyt opposite the N(2)-ethylGua lesion with nearly the same level of accuracy as opposite an unadducted Gua, thus minimizing the mutagentic potential of this lesion. This result contrasts with the relatively high misincorporation efficiency of Thy opposite the O(6)-ethylGua adduct by the DNA polymerases alpha and eta. In reactions containing both DNA polymerases alpha and eta, synthesis past the N(2)-ethylGua adduct is detected to permit completed replication of the adducted oligonucleotide template. These results suggest that accurate replication past the N(2)-ethylGua adduct might be facilitated in cells by pausing of replication catalyzed by DNA polymerase alpha and lesion bypass catalyzed by DNA polymerase eta.     

Pulsed electrochemical detection of sulfur-containing antibiotics following high performance liquid chromatography

Pulsed electrochemical detection (PED) following reversed-phase chromatography has been applied to the direct detection of sulfur-containing antibiotics, specifically, penicillins, cephalosporins, and lincomycin. The compounds are detected sensitively and selectively without the need for derivatization. Integrated pulsed amperometric detection (IPAD) yields limits of detection lower than UV detection for these compounds. Detection limits using an optimized IPAD waveform are typically 10 ppb or less. The high selectivity of PED for thiocompounds reduces sample preparation. This work is applied to the determination of penicillin and related analogues in various pharmaceutical formulations/preparations, including a chicken feed.     

Total parenteral feeding in infants using peripheral veins

Fifteen infants with life-threatening gastrointestinal anomalies received total parenteral feeding for periods ranging from 10 to 54 days; their ages ranged from one day to 5 months. The solutions were administered through peripheral veins. All patients gained weight during the period of observation and no cases of septicaemia were encountered.     

受体介导的凝血酶对成骨细胞增殖及分化的作用

目的 通过凝血酶对成骨细胞的增殖及分化作用的研究来探讨受体介导的凝血酶的功能.方法 原代成骨细胞分别取自于蛋白酶激活受体(protease-activated receptor,PAR)-1敲除鼠和野生对照鼠的头颅骨.并利用凝血酶,人工合成的PAR-1或PAR-4特异性激活短肽对细胞进行处理,通过对5.溴-2-脱氧尿嘧啶的嵌入及细胞碱性磷酸酶活性的测定探讨PAR-1或PAR-4激活对细胞增殖和分化的影响.结果 在野生鼠成骨细胞,凝血酶及PAR-1激活肽均能促进的细胞增殖和降低碱性磷酸酶的活性,但PAR-4激活肽却无这些作用.然而在PAR-1 敲除鼠的成骨细胞无论是凝血酶还是PAR-4激活肽均不能改变细胞的增殖及碱性磷酸酶的活性.结论 本研究结果 表明凝血酶促进成骨细胞增殖及抑制其分化是通过PAR-1介导的.其他凝血酶受体并不具有此作用.     

Utilization of screening mammography: comparison of different physician specialties

Data obtained on 426 consecutive patients referred to a breast center by 122 physicians, including family practitioners, general surgeons, and other specialists, showed that the obstetricians-gynecologists referred the greatest average number of patients per physician, with more than 50% of these referrals for screening mammography. Internists referred fewer patients by nearly a factor of ten, with only one-third of these patients referred for screening mammography. Internists may be the weakest link in the utilization of screening mammography.