First-generation offspring of male mice exposed to 239Pu-citrate show no evidence of leukaemia or life shortening

The aim was to test whether male mice injected with ²³⁹Pu citrate transmit induced mutations that lead to specific causes of death, decrease longevity or both. Male CBA/Ca mice injected with ²³⁹Pu citrate solutions at nominal activities of 6 and 60 Bq g^?–?1 were mated to females (same strain) 54?–?68 days later. Absorbed doses to the testes were estimated to be approximately 0.3 and 4.0?cGy. Control males were injected with carrier only. Longevity was evaluated. All 1807 progeny were given detailed necropsies. Haematological analysis was used in an attempt to identify leukaemia. Male progeny from both treated groups lived significantly longer than those from the control, and there was no difference in longevity between the two treatments. No evidence was found of the induction of leukaemia or of any of the numerous probable causes of death. Although numerous significant differences were found in the many comparisons made between the three groups, there was no clear indication that any harmful effects were associated with paternal preconceptional plutonium exposure. This was in spite of the initial body burden (higher dose) being approximately 2800 times the maximum body burden allowed for workers when this study was initiated.     

Sedation for Endoscopy

Abstract  In order to examine the investigators' clinical suspicion that Vietnamese patients were more sensitive to the sedative effects of midazolam than were Caucasians, the pharmacokinetics of a single, weight-adjusted intravenous dose of midazolam (0.05 mg/kg) were compared in a group of healthy Caucasian and Vietnamese male volunteers. The Vietnamese group ( n =8) had a significantly lower height, lean body mass and mean weight (59.8±5.5 vs 72.1±8.1 kg, respectively) compared with the Caucasian group ( n =8). No significant differences were found between the Vietnamese and Caucasian groups with regard to distribution half-life of midazolam (8.38±13.1 vs 1.49±0.63 min, respectively), elimination half-life (2.49±1.80 vs 1.48±0.66 h, respectively), clearance (4.93±1.31 vs 5.90±2.12 mL/min per kg, respectively), steady state volume of distribution (0.863±0.497 vs 0.530±0.132 L/kg, respectively) or percentage of unbound drug in plasma (4.89±0.74 vs 4.11±1.08, respectively). This suggests that dosage of midazolam in Vietnamese should be based on total body-weight. Two Vietnamese subjects who were brothers had marked elevation of distribution half-life and initial volume of distribution and lesser elevations in elimination half-life and volume of distribution at steady state. This suggests that the known subgroup of subjects who demonstrate dyshomogeneity in midazolam volume of distribution may be genetically determined.     

Complex infantile and congenital hip dislocation: assessment with MR imaging

Twenty-five magnetic resonance hip studies were performed on 19 infants with congenital hip dislocation. These patients had a poor initial treatment response, a teratologic dislocation, or a late presentation. Detailed images of single hips obtained with small surface coils resulted in excellent visualization of all the clinically important soft-tissue and cartilaginous structures of the hip. No other imaging modality demonstrates all of these structures simultaneously.     

Initial evaluation of congenital hypothyroidism: a survey of general paediatricians in East Anglia

The practice of general paediatricians in the initial evaluation of congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) was assessed. This was performed by a questionnaire survey of paediatricians in East Anglia of whom 84% responded. Nineteen of 25 clinicians based in seven district hospitals managed children with CHT. The median number of children in the care of each clinician was 4 (range 1-17) and the median number of children attending each hospital was 12 (range 5-23). All except one clinician arranged to confirm the diagnosis with a serum thyroid stimulating hormone concentration and free or total thyroxine. There was variation of opinion on the value of serum triiodothyronine and free triiodothyronine measurements, antibody screening, knee radiographs, and thyroid isotope scans. One clinician sought advice when notified of new children and two expressed the need for an investigation protocol. These findings indicate that most general paediatricians in East Anglia manage only a few children with CHT; the initial diagnosis is appropriately confirmed but they are uncertain about the value of other investigations.     

Mineral content of skeletal bones in otosclerosis

In 63 patients with otosclerosis confirmed by operation, the bone mineral content was determined by photon absorptiometry. The bone mineral content and bone mineral concentration were found to be normal, which lends support to the assumption that otosclerosis is a localized disease and not a manifestation of a generalized disorder of the skeletal system.