Blood groups and other genetic markers in New Zealand Europeans and Maoris

Genetic data on the frequency of various red-cell antigens and enzymes as well as polymorphic protein markers from New Zealand European and Maori populations are outlined. Despite widespread intermarriage between races in New Zealand there was, in nearly all systems tested, a significant difference in the frequency of genetic markers.     

Pulmonary haemosiderosis associated with left atrial myxoma.

A patient with features suggesting pulmonary haemosiderosis was found to have a myxoma. The pulmonary lesion cleared after excision of the tumour.     

Alterations in phencyclidine and sigma binding sites in schizophrenic brains. Effects of disease process and neuroleptic medication.

The specific binding of [3H]TCP and [3H](+)3-PPP, radioligands which respectively label PCP-NMDA and sigma binding sites was measured in tissue homogenates prepared from dissected areas of control and schizophrenic postmortem brains. [3H]TCP binding was bilaterally increased in orbital frontal cortex (Brodmann area 11) of schizophrenic brains. This finding may be due to an increased glutamatergic innervation of orbital frontal cortex since it parallels our findings of increased [3H]kainate and [3H]D-aspartate binding in this area. In contrast, [3H](+)3-PPP binding was reduced in each of the four brain regions examined. The reductions were greatest in brains from the schizophrenic subjects receiving neuroleptics at the time of death. Neuroleptics remaining in the brains of these subjects may compete in vitro with [3H](+)3-PPP for binding to the sigma site.     

Lymphoceles: imaging characteristics and percutaneous management

Twenty-five patients who had lymphoceles underwent sectional imaging and interventional radiologic procedures. Viewed using sonography, lymphoceles were hypoechoic to anechoic, occasionally with internal septa and debris. Low numbers (occasionally negative values) were observed using computed tomography (CT); these numbers strongly suggest the diagnosis of lymphocele. Calcification was observed on CT images of one patient. Diagnostic aspiration revealed tan to yellow fluid containing many lymphocytes; pathognomonic fat globules were observed in four cases. Malignant cells were found in two collections, an unusual occurrence. Therapeutic needle aspiration and short-term catheter drainage were usually unsuccessful (only one of five patients [20%] was cured). Long-term (1-5-week) catheter drainage cured 11 of 14 patients (78.6%). Sclerosing agents may have been beneficial for lymphocele obliteration in three of four patients. For most patients, lymphoceles may be diagnosed and treated successfully using radiologic means.     

Anticholinergic agents for prophylaxis of neuroleptic-induced dystonic reactions: a prospective study

The development of acute dystonic reactions was monitored in 202 acute psychiatric patients during initial hospitalization and treatment with various neuroleptic drugs in a prospective study. Data were analyzed to determine the effect of anticholinergic prophylaxis, age, sex, and type and dosage of neuroleptic on the incidence of dystonic reactions. Nearly 90% of dystonic reactions occurred by the third day of treatment. The overall trend favored the prophylactic use of antiparkinsonian drugs with all neuroleptics, and the effect of this prophylaxis with haloperidol was statistically significant. Because anticholinergic prophylaxis was used more often when larger dosages of neuroleptics were prescribed, an added effect in the observed trend for fewer dystonic reactions is suggested.     

Long-term double masked trial of early treatment with L-dopa plus bromocriptine versus L-dopa alone in Parkinson's disease. Interim results

The quality and duration of control in two groups of parkinsonian patients under treatment with an L-dopa-based drug alone or L-dopa-based drug which has been partially substituted with bromocriptine are being compared over a 5-year period using a double-blind placebo-controlled study design. The aim is to establish whether early addition of bromocriptine will minimise late L-dopa complications. Results are presented after 1 year. Of 31 patients randomised, 13 were treated with combined L-dopa/bromocriptine and 14 with L-dopa/placebo. 4 patients were withdrawn for various reasons. In both groups any dose adjustments were aimed at maintaining the pre-entry clinical condition. In the group receiving bromocriptine combination therapy, progressive reduction of L-dopa was possible without deterioration of the patients' condition. In patients receiving L-dopa alone, the dose of L-dopa at 12 months was almost similar to that recorded on entry to the study. The total number of patients reporting adverse events in the L-dopa/bromocriptine combination and L-dopa alone groups were 8 and 7, respectively. At the present interim stage of the study it is not possible to compare the incidence of L-dopa long-term complications in either group.     

Clinical characteristics of nosocomial sinusitis

Paranasal sinusitis is an important source of sepsis and morbidity in head injury victims and requires aggressive pursuit and therapy. Of 208 head-injured patients, 24 developed paranasal sinusitis. The Glasgow Coma Scale score of the sinusitis patients was 7.1 +/- 3.9. Nineteen patients were intubated nasotracheally, and five were intubated orally. Sinus air fluid levels, indicative of bleeding into the sinus, were seen on 17 initial computed tomographic scans. Maxillary sinus suppuration occurred in 23 patients; in 20 it was the initial sinus involved. Twenty-one patients developed polymicrobial sinusitis. Coexisting infections were common. In 15 patients with concurrent tracheobronchitis or pneumonia, organisms identical to those in sinus aspirations were recovered from the sputum. Seven patients had associated bacteremia. Meningitis in six patients shared a common pathogen with their sinusitis. Nonoperative management successfully resolved sinus infection in 19 cases. Five patients required open sinusotomy.     

Incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in burn patients: detection of anti-C100, anti-C33c and anti-Core antibodies.

Anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies were searched for in 45 burnt patients, at the time of burn injury and more than 6 months after burn injury. HCV infection was detected in 18% as a consequence of the numerous transfusions of blood or blood derivatives used during the post-burn treatment. Five patients displayed evidence of anti-C100, anti-C33c and anti-Core antibodies together; two patients had only anti-C100 and anti-C33c antibodies, and the last one showed only anti-Core antibodies. Chronic hepatitis was observed in 83% of HCV infections. Kinetics of appearance of anti-HCV antibodies varied between patients. Anti-Core is generally the first to be detected at high levels; however, in at least one case it was detected only two and a half months after C100 and C33c antibodies.     

Cardiac responsiveness to alpha and beta adrenergic amines: effects of carbachol and hypothyroidism

Previous reports of cardiac beta to alpha adrenoceptor interconversion secondary to hypothyroidism left open the alternative possibility of a functional influence by hypothyroidism on the inotropic and chronotropic effects of adrenergic amines through a different mechanism. To test this possibility, the effects of hypothyroidism (thyroidectomy) were compared with those of acute carbachol pretreatment on the responses of isolated rat atria to the selective beta and alpha adrenoceptor agonists isoproterenol and methoxamine. Both hypothyroidism and acute carbachol pretreatment (3 X 10(-7) -10(-6) M): 1) reduced basal right atrial rates and left atrial tensions; 2) caused an apparent decrease in the inotropic and chronotropic potencies of isoproterenol; 3) reduced the degree of antagonism by propranolol of the responses to isoproterenol; 4) increased the maximum inotropic response of left atria to methoxamine; and 5) converted a lack of response to a positive chronotropic response of right atria to methoxamine. Equivalent reductions of basal rates by hypothermia, or of basal tensions by lowered calcium ion concentrations, did not affect the responses to isoproterenol or methoxamine. The results suggest that both carbachol pretreatment and hypothyroidism functionally antagonize the responses to isoproterenol and enhance the responses to methoxamine by means other than adrenoceptor interconversion.     

A double-blind placebo-controlled study of an infusion of lexipafant (Platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist) in patients with severe sepsis

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent endogenous proinflammatory mediator implicated in the pathogenesis of septic shock. A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of an intravenous PAF receptor antagonist (lexipafant) was conducted with 131 adult Thai patients with suspected severe sepsis (66 of whom had positive blood cultures). Detailed serial clinical, biochemical, and cytokine measurements were performed. Lexipafant treatment was well tolerated. The 28-day mortality in the lexipafant group (61.4%) was similar to that in the placebo group (62.6%). There was also no evidence that lexipafant affected clinical or biochemical measures of disease severity or the profile of sequentially measured plasma cytokine levels. PAF may not have an important role in the pathogenesis of severe sepsis.