Shoulder pain and the overhand athlete

There has been much controversy surrounding the issue of shoulder pain and the overhand athlete. Several hypotheses have been suggested as to the cause of the shoulder pain--subacromial impingement, anterior capsular laxity, internal or posterosuperior impingement, traction injury, and scapular imbalance. Treatment for the patient depends on the specific cause of the pain. As always, a full routine of nonoperative therapeutic measures should be administered before resorting to surgical intervention.     

The seroepidemiology of varicella in Italy

We conducted a seroepidemiological study to evaluate the potential impact of mass varicella vaccination on the transmission of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in Italy, where vaccination is not mandatory. We tested 3179 serum samples, collected from September 1996 to October 1997, for specific anti-VZV antibodies using a commercially available ELISA. The results confirmed that varicella typically involves children (82.1% seroprevalence among 10- to 14-year-olds) and that the mean age of acquiring the infection seems to be increasing. The results also revealed that southern Italy, compared to the rest of the country, has a greater circulation of VZV and an earlier age of acquisition. The potential impact of mass vaccination among 12- to 18-month-old children on the epidemiological trend of the infection must be carefully considered, in that failure to reach high levels of coverage could lead to an increase in the mean age of acquisition, which is already occurring in Italy.     

Transcervical sampling as a means of detection of fetal cells during the first trimester of pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the detection of fetal cells from transcervical samples by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-seven women undergoing first-trimester termination of pregnancy were recruited for transcervical sampling and 16 were recruited for endocervical mucus aspiration. Subjects were asked to assess the discomfort of the procedure. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses were performed with X and Y chromosome-specific probes. Results were compared with those of conventional chromosomal analysis. RESULTS: Male signals (XY) were observed in 19 of 25 male fetuses (76%), and female signals (XX) were observed in 21 of 22 female fetuses. There was a significant variation between operators in cell retrieval. With mucus aspiration only 37.5% of male fetuses were correctly identified. The subjects did not find the procedure uncomfortable and reported that it was comparable to having a cervical smear taken. CONCLUSIONS: Transcervical irrigation correctly identified the sex of 76% of male fetuses, but it still has considerable operator variability. This variability might be reduced by improved catheter design.     

No evidence of somatic FGFR3 mutation in various types of carcinoma

Germline specific point mutations in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) are associated with autosomal dominant human skeletal dysplasia and craniosynostosis syndromes. Mutations identical to the germinal activating mutations found in severe skeletal dysplasias have been identified in certain types of cancer: at low frequency in multiple myeloma and cervix carcinoma and at high frequency in bladder carcinoma. We analysed, by SSCP and sequencing, the prevalence of FGFR3 mutations in 116 primary tumours of various types (upper aerodigestive tract, oesophagus, stomach, lung and skin). The regions analysed encompassed all FGFR3 point mutations previously described in severe skeletal dysplasia and cancers. No mutations were detected in the tumour types examined, suggesting that FGFR3 mutations are restricted to a few tumour types, the evidence to date suggesting that they are very specific to bladder carcinomas.     

The effect of media composition on the thermal resistance of Bacillus stearothermophilus

Spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 were developed at 62 degrees C on 32 media composed of various amounts of 11 components: D-glucose, L-glutamic acid, yeast extract, peptone, sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, potassium phosphate, calcium chloride, ferrous sulfate and manganese sulfate. Statistical models were used and demonstrated a strong interaction of yeast/peptone/ammonium phosphate, contributing positively to the best sporulation yield (6-7 log10 spores). The most influential medium components on the thermal resistance (at 121 degrees C) of spores in suspension (calcium acetate, pH 9.7) were yeast extract (positively) and potassium phosphate (negatively), both creating the positive interaction, for spores from a 6-day incubation period. However, the strong negative effect of sodium chloride decreased the D-value from 1.81 min to 0.57 min upon increasing the incubation period (62 degrees C) from 3 days to 6 days. The D-glucose and peptone exhibited greater effects than the yeast extract and potassium phosphate interaction on D-values for 3-day spores on strip, just as the highly joint-positive peptone/sodium chloride effect maintained the thermal resistance of 6-day spores on strips. The spores on strip system showed less stability than the spores in suspension. The most stable spore system confirmed D-values at 121 degrees C at a range between 1.5 min and 1.9 min, which were obtained by keeping sodium chloride and potassium phosphate at minimum concentrations and yeast extract and peptone at maximum concentrations, regardless of the 3- to 6-day sporulation.     

Coeliac disease in identical twins.

Coeliac disease occurred at the same age in MZ twins. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology of the small intestine, rapid response to a gluten-free diet, and relapse after reintroduction of gluten.     

头孢克肟胶囊人体药动学研究及生物等效性评价

目的：研究头孢克肟胶囊在健康人体内的药动学及生物等效性。方法：以18名健康志愿者为试验对象，采用同体交叉试验方法，分别单剂量口服受试制剂或参比制剂各400mg，采用HPLC法测定血浆中药物浓度。结果：参比制剂和受试制剂的tmax分别为（3．39±0．50）和（3．39±0．50）h，cmax分别为（2．33±0．33）和（2．27±0．25）μg／mL，t1／2分别为（3．92±0．85）和（4．41±0．68）h，AUC0～16分别为（14．61±2．67）和（14．82±2．02）μg·h·mL^-1，AUC0～∞分别为（16．00±3．13）和（16．81±2．62）μg·h·mL^-1。结论：受试制剂与参比制剂生物等效，受试制剂的相对生物利用度为（98．69±13．13）％。