The prevalence of the markers of viral hepatitis B and delta among the population in regions differing in the level of morbidity]

From two regions differing by the levels of incidence of hepatitis B, 2019 blood serum specimens from normal population were examined for markers of HBV infection. In Moscow, among 1040 samples examined HBsAg was found in 2.0%, anti-HBs in 10.0%, anti-HBc in the absence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in 4.5%. In the Osh Province of Kirgizstan, among 979 subjects examined the same markers were found in 10.3%, 22.4%, and 14.0%, respectively. In this area, HBsAg was detected most frequently among infants (14.9% in infants under 1 year), in whom HBs-antigenemia was combined with the presence of HBeAg in 54.5% and with anti-HBc-IgM in 69.2%. Antibody to delta antigen (anti-delta) was found in 24 (25.8%) out of 93 HBsAg-positive subjects in the Osh Province but in none of 21 subjects with HBs-antigenemia in Moscow.     

Incisional healing in rats treated with diethyl maleate

Diethyl maleate (DEM) which binds and thus depletes tissue glutathione levels was used to aggravate the injury and to determine its effect on incisional healing. A 5 cm dorsal midline skin incision was performed on 40 albino Wistar rats in two groups and then closed by interrupted sutures. Groups received 0.9% NaCl and DEM at a dosage of 1 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for seven days, respectively. On postoperative days 7 and 14, histopathological assessment and tensile strengths were measured. The DEM treated group had a marked inflammation with poorly defined collagen formation and the tensile strength measurements revealed a significant decrease (p <0.001) on the 7t day. On the other hand, the first group showed better collagenization and a lesser degree of inflammation. However, on the 14th day, there was no noticeable histopathological difference between the two groups; but, tensile strength values of the second group were still lower (p <0.05). In this animal model, DEM postponed the healing process and reduced the tensile strength.     

Inhibitory effect of human blood granulocyte glycosaminoglycans on colony-forming activity of bone marrow fibroblasts

Inhibitory effect of glycosaminoglycans isolated from peripheral blood granulocytes of patients with chronic myeloleukemia and normal subjects on increment in colony-forming units of fibroblasts in monolayer cultures of rat bone marrow is determined by the degree of sulfation of their main component chondroitin-4-sulfate and by increased content of heparan sulfate. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 3, pp. 319–322, March, 1998     

Childhood intussusception in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

A retrospective review of 41 intussusceptions encountered in 39 children seen over an 8-year period in Ile-Ife, Nigeria is presented. Most cases (61.5%) occurred in infancy. This contrasts with previous reports from Nigeria where intussusception has been presented as being commoner in older children. Vomiting, abdominal pain, excessive crying and passage of bloodstained stools were the main presenting symptoms. An abdominal mass was palpable in only 28.2% of patients. Generally, patients presented late in hospital with only two (5.1%) arriving within 24 hours of the onset of illness. Hydrostatic reduction with barium enema was attempted in these two patients, and it successfully reduced the intussusception in one and caused partial reduction in the other. Nineteen patients (46.3%) required bowel resection. There were nine deaths, giving a mortality rate of 23.1%. The relatively high bowel resection and mortality rates were attributed to the delay in seeking medical treatment.     

Monitoring patients in the anesthesia recovery room. Continuous transcutaneous O2 and CO2 measurements]

To establish whether continuous transcutaneous O2 and CO2 measurement in the recovery room is suitable for non-invasive monitoring of spontaneous respiration in patients newly operated upon, comparative transcutaneous and arterial pO2 and pCO2 investigations were carried out on 35 adults. There was a correlation coefficient of 0.66 between paO2 and tcpO2. The transcutaneous pO2 values measured were 45.3 mm Hg under the arterial values. When the transcutaneous CO2 values were compared with the arterial values, the correlation coefficient was 0.906. The mean transcutaneous pCO2 values measured lay around 0.7 mm Hg above the arterial values. On the basis of this slight deviation in CO2 values, the method appears to be suitable for continuous non-invasive determination of pCO2. The very large deviations in the O2 values indicate that transcutaneous measurement of oxygen partial pressure in this specific examination situation is not sufficiently reliable, which makes questionable the practice of using one piece of equipment for both measurements. In the clinical setting presented, transcutaneous O2 monitoring does not represent an alternative to close clinical observation and pulse oximetry.     

MOBILITY AIDS FOR CHILDREN WITH HIGH-LEVEL MYELOMENINGOCELE: PARAPODIUM VERSUS WHEELCHAIR

The optimal method for providing mobility for children with myelomeningocele remains controversial. 39 children using a parapodium were compared with 29 children in wheelchairs. There were no significant differences between the two groups for medical complications, use of health-care services or activities of daily living, although there were differences in the patterns of complications. Children using the parapodium were more likely to develop lesions of the lower extremities, to have dislocated hips, to be more obese and to watch more television; children using wheelchairs were more likely to develop lesions of the gluteal region, to have knee-flexion contractures and to have fewer fecal accidents. The parapodium was judged by families to be less effective as a mobility aid; however, the upright posture it allows was considered extremely advantageous. A combined approach allowing upright posture and wheeled mobility would appear to be optimal.     

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies in childhood.

Four children, index cases of families in which autosomal dominant neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) was diagnosed, are presented. Only one child was admitted for evaluation of an acute peroneal palsy, three presented with other symptoms. Polyneuropathy was diagnosed in all four children, in one of their parents and in some sibs. On inquiry, one child and several members of the four families had experienced transient palsies before. Morphological studies of the sural nerves showed frequently large tomacula and a neuropathic process of segmental de- and remyelination, and axonal degeneration. Attention is drawn to the atypical presentation without pressure palsies of HNPP.     

Growth hormone stimulates granulation tissue formation and insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression in wound chambers in the rat.

It has been reported that GH stimulates fibroblast growth and wound healing. In the present study we measured the effect of locally applied GH on insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) mRNA concentrations and granulation tissue formation in wound cylinders, implanted s.c. Four stainless-steel wiremesh cylinders were implanted s.c. in the back of male rats (280 g). Each cylinder was then injected every day with either 0.014 or 0.14 U human GH, or vehicle only. Ingrown granulation tissue and wound fluid was obtained on day 17 after implantation. The wet weight of granulation tissue was determined and concentrations of IGF-I mRNA in the tissue were measured by solution hybridization/RNAase protection assay. Similar assays were used to measure the levels of IGF-I receptor mRNA and GH receptor mRNA, while the IGF-I concentration in wound fluid and serum was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) after acid-ethanol extraction. The concentrations of IGF-I mRNA in ingrown granulation tissue as well as the wet weight of this tissue were significantly higher in the GH-treated cylinders. There was no significant effect of GH on IGF-I receptor mRNA and GH receptor mRNA levels. Consistent with the results of previous studies, wound fluid IGF-I levels were lower than serum IGF-I levels, but no significant difference was found between the GH-treated cylinders and the control cylinders. The results of the present study show that GH stimulates granulation tissue formation and increases the concentration of IGF-I mRNA in the ingrown granulation tissue.