Protection by nitecapone against sodium taurocholate-induced damage to cultured gastric cells

The goal of this study was to observe if nitecapone protected against taurocholate-induced damage in primary cultured rat gastric mucosal cells, as well as in a well-differentiated human gastric epithelial cell line (MKN 28). Prostaglandins were measured to analyze the protection mechanism. In primary rat gastric mucosal cell culture, nitecapone 125–250 M protected the cells significantly against damage induced by sodidum taurocholate, increasing cell viability by 31–38%. In the human gastric epithelial cell line, in which mitochondrial activity was measured as an indication of cell viability, nitecapone (62.5–250 M) protected the cells against sodium taurocholate-induced damage by 12–20%. Prostaglandin E₂, thromboxane B₂, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F₁ measurements in the primary cultured rat gastric mucosal cells showed that nitecapone (125 M and 250 M) significantly stimulated prostaglandin E₂ production (84.7% and 61.0%, respectively), and inhibited thromboxane B₂ formation (50% at 250 M), while the 6-keto-prostaglandin F₁ formation was unaffected. Nitecapone had no effect on prostaglandin E₂ production in the MKN 28 epithelial cell line. Indomethacin or aspirin, at concentrations that did not affect cell viability, antagonized the stimulative effect of nitecapone on prostaglandin E₂ formation in the primary cultured rat gastric mucosal cells. Although the prostaglandin E₂ synthesis was blocked, nitecapone still protected against cell damage induced by taurocholate. These results demonstrated the direct and efficacious protection of nitecapone on gastric cell level and suggest that the cytoprotection by nitecapone against taurocholate may not be mediated through the mechanism of stimulated synthesis of prostaglandin E₂.     

Major reduction of rotavirus, but not norovirus, gastroenteritis in children seen in hospital after the introduction of RotaTeq vaccine into the National Immunization Programme in Finland

Universal rotavirus (RV) vaccination is expected to reduce hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis (GE) of children by eliminating most of severe RVGE, but it does not have any effect on norovirus (NV), the second most common causative agent of GE in children. After the introduction of the RV vaccine into the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Finland in 2009, we conducted a prospective 2-year survey of GE in children seen in Tampere University Hospital either as outpatients or inpatients and compared the results with a similar 2-year survey conducted prior to NIP in the years 2006–2008. Compared with the pre-NIP 2-year period, in 2009–2011, hospitalizations for RVGE were reduced by 76 % and outpatient clinic visits were reduced by 81 %. NVGE showed a slight decreasing trend and accounted for 34 % of all cases of GE seen in hospital in pursuance of RVGE having decreased to 26 % (down from 52 %). In cases admitted to the hospital ward, RV accounted for 28 % and NV accounted for 37 %.The impact of RV vaccination was reflected as a 57 % decrease in all hospital admissions and 62 % decrease in all outpatient clinic visits for GE of any cause. Conclusion: RV vaccination in NIP has led to a major reduction of hospital admissions and clinic visits due to RVGE, but has had no effect on NVGE. After 2 years of NIP, NV has become the leading cause of acute GE in children seen in hospital.     

Working conditions and health behaviours among employed women and men: the Helsinki Health Study

BACKGROUND: Working conditions influence health, but previous studies on the associations between work-related factors and health behaviours are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse whether unfavourable working conditions are associated with diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking. METHODS: The data derive from postal questionnaires collected in 2000-2001 from 40- to 60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki (n=6243, response rate: 68%). Logistic regression analysis was used to examine health behaviours as outcomes. Job demands and job control, physically and mentally strenuous work, work fatigue, working overtime and satisfaction with work-home interface were independent variables, adjusted for age, education, occupational social class and marital status. RESULTS: Most of the examined associations between working conditions and health behaviours were not statistically significant. Among women, mentally strenuous work and high job control were associated with a healthy diet. Work fatigue was associated with physical inactivity, whereas physically strenuous work and satisfaction with work-home interface were more often reported by physically active women. Work fatigue was associated with high drinking among men. Low job strain was reported by nonsmoking women, whereas working overtime was associated with nonsmoking among men. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions were only weakly associated with health behaviours, and the associations varied for different health behaviours.     

Adriamycin extravasation: Surgical treatment and possible prevention of skin and soft-tissue injuries

In a material consisting of approximately 6,000 injections of Adriamycin during a 2-year period, eleven moderate and five severe extravasation injuries have been observed. Even a small leakage of the drug may cause a permanent lesion. The most serious injuries were caused by large doses and on the dorsum of the hand. Plastic surgical operations were successfully performed in the severe cases. An active surgical intervention after primary neutralization of the extravasated Adriamycin is recommended.     

DNA flow cytometry, nuclear morphometry, mitotic indices and steroid receptors as independent prognostic factors in female breast cancer.

Clinical features, 8 histological variables, 7 nuclear morphometric variables, 2 mitotic indices, oestrogen-receptor (ER) and progesterone-receptor content (PR), DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) were entered in a Cox's model to assess their independent predictive value in 216 breast-cancer patients followed up for over 9 years. In the whole series, histological type (p = 0.007), volume-corrected mitotic index (M/V index) (p = 0.01), axillary-lymph-node (pN) status (p = 0.024) and the year of treatment (p = 0.045) predicted independently the recurrence-free survival (RFS). In a sub-analysis including SPF (n = 148), the year of treatment (p = 0.003), tumour diameter (p = 0.004), SPF (p = 0.022) and nuclear pleomorphism (p = 0.056) independently predicted the RFS. In a Cox's analysis of the whole series, tumour diameter (p less than 0.001), pN status (p = 0.001), PR status (p = 0.002) and the year of treatment (p = 0.021) were independent predictors of survival. In a separate analysis including also SPF (n = 148), tumour diameter (p less than 0.001), SPF (p = 0.003), pN status (p = 0.008) and the year of treatment (p = 0.015) proved to be independent prognostic factors. The results show that tumour diameter, pN status, M/V-index, histological type, SPF and PR status comprise a sufficient combination of prognostic factors in female breast cancer. In pN patients, age and SDPE may be of additional prognostic significance. The prognostic scores combining the independent prognostic variables reflecting both the proliferative rate and metastatic potential of the tumours are accurate predictors of the RFS and overall survival.     

Swallowing after free-flap reconstruction in patients with oral and pharyngeal cancer

Swallowing and intraoral sensation outcome were investigated prospectively after microvascular free-flap reconstruction. Forty-one patients with a large oral or oropharyngeal carcinoma underwent free-flap surgery usually combined with radiotherapy. The patients completed modified barium swallow, self-rating of swallowing, and 2-point moving discrimination preoperatively and at four time points during the 12-month follow-up period, and a plain chest X-ray one year after operation. Swallowing was impaired with respect to an objective and subjective measure after therapy. Rates for nonsilent and silent aspiration increased during the follow-up. Intraoral sensation deteriorated. Swallowing outcome was not related to sensation. One year after surgery, 86% of the patients ate regular masticated or soft food. Microvascular transfers offer a reasonable option for oral reconstruction. This study does not support the need for sensate flaps. Swallowing problems should be routinely sought and patients rehabilitated during a sufficiently long follow-up with videofluorography regardless of the patient's perception of swallowing.     

Preeclampsia and androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length: results from both children and women

Purpose: We studied whether the CAG (encoding glutamine) repeat length polymorphism in the first exon of the androgen receptor (AR) gene is predictive of preeclampsia. Methods: Fifty-nine children born after preeclamptic pregnancy (PRE) and 58 control subjects born after normotensive pregnancy (non-PRE) were genotyped for the CAG repeat length of the AR gene. Secondly, the ARCAG repeat lengths of 133 unrelated preeclamptic women and 112 healthy controls were studied. The mean AR gene CAG lengths were compared between the preeclampsia and the control groups. Results: The mean length of the CAG repeat segment among children was significantly shorter in the PRE group compared with the non-PRE group (p = 0.02). Interestingly, the difference between the PRE and the non-PRE boys was even more significant (p = 0.008). Also the distribution of allele frequencies was different, short repeat lengths being overrepresented in the PRE children. However, there were no significant differences in the mean CAG repeat lengths between the unrelated preeclamptic women and their controls, but the shortest CAG repeat lengths were found only in the preeclamptic women. Conclusions: The AR gene CAG repeat length is not a major determinant in the development of preeclampsia. The association of the shortest CAG repeats with preeclampsia is possible, but a larger study group is needed to confirm this finding.