Centralisation of a hypospadias repair service--the Warwickshire experience.

An audit of the hypospadias repair service provided in the county of Warwickshire has shown that centralising all referrals to a single surgeon who uses limited, well-practiced techniques, greatly improves outcome. Comparison to previous audit of the service, when provided by a number of surgeons in the region, shows complication rates dropping - fistulae occurrence reducing from 35.8% to 6.7% and urethral stricture rates showing similar improvement from 4.4% to 0%. Overall productivity increased, and referral out of region dropped from 13% to 0%. This provides definitive evidence that restructuring of a service already in place has decreased morbidity and increased efficiency to give results comparable to published data.     

Comparison of functional results with navigation-assisted minimally invasive and conventional techniques in bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

This study was undertaken to compare the clinical and radiological results achieved using navigation-assisted minimally invasive surgery (NA-MIS) and conventional (CON) techniques in 42 bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients with a minimum follow-up of one year. Clinical evaluations were performed using range of motion (ROM), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, and Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) scores (pain, functional, and total) at 3, 6 and 9 months and one year postoperatively. Patients' subjective preferences and radiological indices, including mechanical axis and coronal inclinations of the prostheses, were compared at one year postoperatively. NA-MIS TKA yielded better HSS and WOMAC total scores than CON TKA up to six months, and a better WOMAC pain score up to 9 months. However, these differences were not significant at one year postoperatively. ROM was comparable in both groups at all times, but more patients preferred the NA-MIS side to the CON side. Radiological results showed no differences in mean values between the two surgical groups, although the NA-MIS group contained fewer outliers than the CON group. In conclusion, NA-MIS TKA was associated with better clinical results up to 6 or 9 months after surgery, giving more accurate leg alignment than CON TKA.     

Characteristics of teenage mothers and predictors of breastfeeding initiation in the Michigan WIC Program in 1995. Women, Infants, and Children.

Although breast milk is recommended as the optimal source of infant nutrition, breastfeeding initiation is below recommended levels, especially among teenage mothers. Breastfeeding initiation rates among Michigan (US) teenage mothers (12-19 y) were compared by demographics and health behaviors. Multivariate analyses determined which factors were significant independent predictors of breastfeeding initiation among teenage mothers enrolled prenatally in the Michigan Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in 1995. Significant predictors independently associated with breastfeeding initiation were race/ethnicity, education, marital status, postpartum anemia status, parity, prenatal trimester of WIC enrollment, and smoking. The strongest predictor of breastfeeding initiation differed for white mothers (positive predictor: education beyond high school [OR = 3.13]) and black mothers (negative predictor: multiparous [OR = 0.25]). Initiation rates for this population of teenage mothers fall below the national average for mothers of all ages and the US Healthy People 2010 goals. Research is needed concerning how breastfeeding support and education can be improved to reach the US national health goals.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of poly(arylene-1,2,4-oxadiazole)s with flexible,linear alkoxymethyl side branches

Poly(arylene-1,2,4-oxadiazole)s (PAOs) bearing flexible, linear side chains, 3a - c , were prepared by solution cyclodehydration of their precursors, poly(arylene acyloylamide oxime)s (PAAs), 2a - c , which were synthesized by solution polycondensation of 2,5-bis(n-alkoxymethyl)-terephthaldiamide oximes (DIS-TADO), 1a - c , with terephthaloyl dichloride (TPC). The length of the n-alkoxy group was varied from methoxy via butoxy to octyloxy. The reduction of the phase transition temperatures and the enhancement of the solubilities of 3a - c were greatly affected by the length of the side chains. PAOs with longer side chains, 3b and 3c , are nematic type liquid-crystalline polymers.     

Heterogeneity of IgE response to TDI-HSA conjugates by ELISA in toluene diisocyanate (TDI) -induced occupational asthma (OA) patients.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a low molecular weight reactive chemical, is known to be a main cause of occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. Although it is thought that inhaled TDI may act as a hapten, the precise mechanisms of TDI-induced OA are unknown. In this study, TDI-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugates (5, 10, 20 and 30 min) were prepared in the range of 1.5 to 5.0 TDI mole/HSA mole. Specific binding of serum IgE to TDI-HSA (30 min) was observed using IgE ELISA as well as ELISA inhibition assay. Around 40% of TDI-induced OA patients were positive for serum specific IgE by ELISA. Degrees of serum IgE binding were different depending on which TDI-HSA conjugate was used as an antigen. Moreover, binding patterns were different depending on the individuals. Interestingly, higher binding of IgE to TDI-HSA (5 min) than to TDI-HSA (30 min) which was more highly substituted was observed in some patients. Probably new antigenic epitopes on carrier proteins were targets of the specific IgE. The results of this study indicated that IgE responses to TDI-HSA conjugates were heterogeneous in TDI-induced OA patients and self-proteins modified by reactive chemicals can become a major target antigen of IgE in certain cases.     

Mortality among ferrous foundry workers

Mortality analyses were carried out for 278 male hourly workers who were employed for at least 10 years at a gray iron foundry and who died between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1981. Statistically significant excess proportional mortality due to non-malignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 177), lung cancer (SPMR = 148), and leukemia (SPMR = 284) was found among the 221 white males. Among nonwhite males there was a significant excess in proportional mortality due to circulatory diseases (SPMR = 143). White males in the Finishing classification experienced a significant excess of proportional mortality due to nonmalignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 279) and lung cancer (SPMR = 179). White males in the Core Room classification experienced an excess of proportional mortality due to nonmalignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 321). Case-control studies demonstrated a significant association between nonmalignant respiratory disease and the Finishing classification after controlling for the effects of age, prior occupations in coal mining or foundries, and smoking. A positive but nonsignificant association between lung cancer and Finishing was also found after controlling for age, prior work history, and smoking in case control studies.     

Ultrasonographic measurement of shoulder subluxation in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic measurement of shoulder subluxation in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. DESIGN: Prospective, single blind study. PATIENTS: A total of 41 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were included (24 men and 17 women, mean age 56 years (standard deviation 11), age range 34-78 years). METHODS: Clinical evaluation of the affected shoulder was assessed using the Motricity Index scores and the Modified Ashworth Scale. Two ultrasonographic measurements were taken to check intra-rater reliability. The shoulder subluxation ratio was determined as the ratio of the radiographic vertical and horizontal distance, and the ultrasonographic lateral and anterior distances in the affected shoulder divided by that in the unaffected shoulder. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients of the repeated ultrasonographic lateral/anterior distance measurements in the unaffected and affected shoulders were 0.979/0.969 and 0.950/0.947, respectively. Ultrasonographic lateral/anterior distance ratios were negatively correlated with Motricity Index scores of the affected shoulder abduction (r = -0.490, p < 0.001/ r = -0.671, p < 0.001). Ultrasonographic anterior distance ratio was negatively correlated with Modified Ashworth Scale score of the affected shoulder (r = -0.374, p < 0.05). However, there was no correlation between radiographic distance ratios and clinical evaluation scores. CONCLUSION: We strongly recommend ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool to measure the degree of shoulder subluxation in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.     

Non-immune therapy of IgA glomerulonephritis

Summary: The involvement of the IgA immune system and complement components in IgA glomerulonephritis (IgAGN) has prompted the use of immunosuppressive drugs in therapy, but none has so far been shown to alter the natural course of the disease. Because most patients with IgAGN present during the chronic phase of their illness, at the time when the initiating immune events may no longer be active, nonimmune therapy which targets the common pathway of progressive renal injury is likely to be more useful. There is increasing evidence that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) reduce proteinuria and renal injury in patients with IgAGN, and this effect may be observed in both normotensive and hypertensive patients. Yet to be determined is whether this effect is specific for ACEI and whatever other effective antihypertensive drugs may achieve a similar result. Fish oil has recently been shown to retard the progression of renal failure in patients with aggressive IgAGN, but a narrow therapeutic window appears to exist for this form of treatment. Antiplatelet agents on their own appear to be ineffective but in combination with anticoagulation (low dose warfarin) have been shown to have an antiproteinuric effect and may preserve renal function in patients with progressive disease. Future directions of non-immune therapy of IgAGN include evaluation of the renoprotective effect of angiotensin II receptor antagonists, free-radical scavengers and antilipid drugs. More work should also be done to identify factors which put the patients at risk of developing progressive disease and which predict therapeutic response, as has been done recently with the identification of the deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene as a marker of progressive disease and therapeutic response to ACEI in patients with IgAGN.     

Polymorphism p53 codon-72 and invasive cervical cancer: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Although some studies have reported that the arginine isoform on codon 72 of p53 increases the susceptibility to invasive cervical cancer, such data remain controversial. The objective of this study was to quantitatively summarize the evidence for such a relationship. METHODS: Our data sources consisted of a MEDLINE search of the literature published before December 2002, bibliography review, and expert consultation. Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Information on sample size, study design, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and method of genotype determination was abstracted by two reviewers using a standardized protocol. The overall odds ratio (OR) of the p53 gene on invasive cervical cancer was estimated using the Mantel-Haenzel method. RESULTS: The overall OR (95% confidence interval) for cervical cancer among those with the homozygous mutant (Arg/Arg) was 1.2 (1.1-1.3, P=0.001) compared with those with the heterozygous mutant (Arg/Pro). By a cellular type of cervical cancer, the overall OR among those with Arg/Arg was statistically significant in adenocarcinomas (1.7, 1.1-2.6, P=0.024), but not in squamous cell carcinomas (1.1, 0.9-1.2, P=0.960), compared with Pro/Pro. Compared with Arg/Pro, the OR among those with Arg/Arg was statistically significant in HPV types 16 (1,5, 1.2-2.0, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the p53 gene was associated with increased risk for invasive cervical cancer. However, the risk varied by country, cellular, and HPV type.     

Interactions between membrane IgM and the cytoskeleton involve the cytoplasmic domain of the immunoglobulin receptor

Cross-linking induced interactions between the membrane form of immunoglobulin (mIg) and the cytoskeletal matrix have been described by several groups. To date, the function of mIgM association with the cytoskeleton is not yet understood. Delineation of the molecular basis of these interactions will be instrumental in elucidating their function. We have previously shown that the Igα/β heterodimer is not required for ligand-induced mIgM binding to the cytoskeleton. In this study, we have investigated the role of other B cell-specific proteins in mediating these interactions. For this, we expressed mIgM in the non-hematopoietic human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa S3 and verified the capacity of the surface-expressed IgM to interact with the cytoskeletal matrix upon cross-linking with anti-μ chain antibodies. We show here that only the mIgM molecule itself and no other B cell-specific protein(s) is required in mediating mIgM interactions with actin filaments. In an attempt to determine the cytoskeleton-binding site of mIgM we investigated the role of the cytoplasmic tail of mIgM (KVK) in binding the receptor to actin-based microfilaments. Using mutated forms of mIgM expressed in J558L cells, we show here that KVK plays a role in mediating these interactions. The absence of KVK did not, however, completely abrogate mIgM-cytoskeletal interactions, suggesting that there are additional molecular requirements for the ligand-induced mIgM binding to the cytoskeletal matrix.