Magnesium intake and serum C-reactive protein levels in children.

The objective of this study was to determine whether magnesium consumption is associated with inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]) in children. The study was an analysis of child (age 6-17 years) participants in the cross-sectional, nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Children consuming less than 75% of RDA were 1.94 times more likely (p < 0.05) to have elevated serum CRP levels than children consuming above the RDA. In adjusted analyses controlling for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and BMI, children with consumption of less than 75% RDA were 58% more likely to have elevated CRP (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.07-infinity). Children with intakes below the RDA are more likely to have elevated CRP levels.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of recurrent and metastatic mixed mesodermal tumors

We report the cytological and clinical findings of 16 fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) performed on recurrent (n = 6) and metastatic (n = 10) mixed mesodermal tumors (MMMTs). The median interval between the primary diagnosis and FNA was 16 mo. Primary sites were the endometrium (n = 11), the ovary (n = 3), the cervix (n = 1), and pelvic soft tissue (n = 1). Primary tumors showed carcinoma with homologous mesenchymal components in 13 cases and focal heterologous elements in three (two chondrosarcomas and one rhabdomyosarcoma). The FNAs showed carcinoma in all 16 cases, with adenocarcinoma differentiation in three, Mesenchymal elements were identified in aspirates of three recurrent and two metastatic lesions. They were all homologous. No heterologous mesenchymal elements were identified in the aspirates. We conclude that mesenchymal components in FNAs of MMMTs are less likely to be seen in metastatic lesions, and that heterologous mesenchymal components are rarely seen in these aspirates even in recurrent disease. These findings confirm that the epithelial component is responsible for the malignant behavior of MMMTs, and suggest that these lesions may need to be classified as sarcomatoid carcinomas rather than true carcinosarcomas. Diagn Cytopathol 1994;11:328–332. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Behavioral Characterization of Alcohol-Tolerant and Alcohol-Nontolerant Rat Lines and an F2 Generation

The Alcohol Tolerant (AT) and Alcohol Nontolerant (ANT) rats, selectively bred for ethanol-induced ataxia on the inclined plane at ALKO in Finland, were moved to the University of Colorado in 1998. The selection phenotype was tested on generation 60 animals in Colorado. In week one, ataxia was measured on the inclined plane 30 minutes after an intraperitoneal dose of 2 g/kg 15% w/v ethanol. Differences in ethanol-induced ataxia between the AT and ANT lines at the University of Colorado were similar to those in the original lines in Finland. In week two, ataxia was measured on the inclined plane at 5 and 30 minutes, and tolerance was measured as the time to regain the original angle of sliding. The AT rats rapidly developed tolerance to 2 g/kg ethanol on the inclined plane; tolerance development was significantly slower in the ANT rats. In week three, the animals were tested for the duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR) and blood ethanol concentration at regain of the righting reflex (BEC_RRR) following a dose of 3.5 g/kg. The AT rats had a significantly higher BEC_RRR than did the ANT rats, but did not differ in LORR. A separate experiment with previously untreated rats demonstrated that naïve animals of the two lines did not differ in BEC_RRR or LORR. AT and ANT rats were genotyped for the mutation that occurs in the gene for the α6 subunit of the GABA_A receptor, a natural mutation that is known to affect benzodiazepine responses. All ANT animals tested carried the mutant allele, whereas some AT families carried the mutation and others were wild type. There was no effect of the mutation in AT rats for any of the phenotypes that were tested. After several generations of brother–sister mating, the AT and ANT lines were more than 90% inbred as determined by genotyping. One AT (wild-type) line and one ANT (mutant) line were selected for breeding an F₂ intercross generation of 1200 animals. They were phenotyped for sensitivity and tolerance to ethanol on each of three consecutive weeks. Order of testing had a modest effect on some of the phenotypes: when tested during the third week as compared to weeks one or two, BEC_RRR was increased, 30-minute sensitivity was increased, and development of acute tolerance was increased. Statistically significant correlations were found between tolerance and sensitivity at both 5 and 30 minutes, and between LORR and BEC_RRR. The smaller (or absence of) significant correlations between others of the phenotypes indicate(s) that they are most likely controlled by different sets of genes.     

Ecological Systems Affecting Urban Childbearing Puerto Rican Women in the City of Philadelphia

Maternal and Child Health Journal - The purpose of this study was to explore socio-ecological influences affecting the daily lives of urban, pregnant Puerto Rican women and factors negatively...     

Towards compatibility of EUnetHTA JCA methodology and German HTA: a systematic comparison and recommendations from an industry perspective

The European Journal of Health Economics - The transferability of the EU joint clinical assessment (JCA) reports for pharmaceuticals for the German benefit assessment was evaluated by...     

Laboratory tests of renal function

The kidneys are vital organs in the management of fluid balance, waste product removal, electrolyte homeostasis, acid–base balance and endocrine function. Waste products removed by the kidney are urea, uric acid and creatinine; other foreign products with similar physiochemical properties are also excreted. Urea and uric acid are by products of protein metabolism and creatinine is generated by the metabolism of creatine compounds from muscle. The kidney regulates fluid and electrolyte balance through controlling the composition and volume of urine. In the proximal convoluted tubule and the loop of Henle, 90% of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium are reabsorbed. Acid–base balance is achieved by regulating the excretion of hydrogen ions and bicarbonate buffering. The kidney also has a number of endocrine functions including the production of renin and erythropoietin as well as hydroxylation of vitamin D. The kidneys receive 25% of cardiac output, generating 170–200 litres of ultrafiltrate per day. Urine output is approximately 1.5 litres per day, which is concentrated ultrafiltrate through selective reabsorption of solutes and water. In this article we will discuss tests frequently used to assess renal function.     

Safety and immunogenicity of adjuvanted recombinant subunit herpes zoster vaccine in lung transplant recipients

Lung transplant recipients are at high risk for herpes zoster and preventive measures are a significant unmet need. We investigated the safety and immunogenicity of two doses of a recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in lung transplant recipients (≥50 years). We enrolled 50 patients of which 49 received at least one vaccine dose. Anti-glycoprotein E (gE) antibody levels (n = 43) increased significantly compared to baseline (median optical density [OD] 1.96; interquartile range [IQR]: 1.17–2.89) after the first (median OD 3.41, IQR 2.54–3.81, p < .0001) and second vaccine dose (median OD 3.63, IQR 3.39–3.86, p < .0001). gE-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T cell frequencies (n = 38) also increased from baseline (median 85 per 10⁶ CD4+ T cells; IQR: 46–180) to the first (median 128 per 10⁶ CD4+ T cells; IQR: 82–353; p = .023) and after the second dose (median 361 per 10⁶ CD4+ T cells; IQR: 146–848; p < .0001). Tenderness (83.0%; 95%CI: 69.2–92.4%) and redness (31.9%; 95%CI: 19.1–47.1%) at injection site were common. One rejection episode within 3 weeks of vaccination was observed. This is the first study demonstrating that RZV was safe and elicited significant humoral and cell-mediated immunity in lung transplant recipients. RZV is a new option for the prevention of shingles in this population.