High-field MR surface-coil imaging of the hand and wrist. Part I. Normal anatomy

High-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) images of the hands and wrists of six healthy volunteers were obtained at 1.5 T with a surface coil. Additionally, the hands and wrists of two fresh cadavers were imaged and were subsequently sectioned for anatomic correlation. High contrast when depicting soft-tissue, coupled with impressive spatial resolution and multiplanar capabilities, enabled delineation of fine structures including nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. Osseous and cartilaginous structures were also well depicted. MR imaging gives anatomic definition of the hand and wrist unmatched by other diagnostic imaging methods.     

Benign Cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum

Benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum is a well-defined but rare entity. A total of 35 instances have been reported, almost all in adults, the majority females. Cystic mesotheliomas have, until recently, been labeled cystic lymphangiomas or lymphohemangiomas. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy who, despite only subtotal resection of his abdominal mass, is well and recurrence free 9 months after surgery. The role of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in diagnosis is emphasized.     

FACTORS GOVERNING INSULIN AND GLUCAGON RESPONSES DURING NORMAL MEALS

An experimental model is described which can be used to study substrate and hormone responses to normal meals administered in very near normal circumstances. After 500, 300 and 125 calorie meals, the relative proportion of fat or protein content did not influence the plasma glucose except for minor differences between the high protein-high fat meals. The insulin response to such meals was correlated positively with the increment in glucose but reduction of protein content below 8 g caused a significant reduction in the increment in plasma insulin per unit increase in plasma glucose. Alterations in protein content above 8 g made no difference. Fat content of the meal did not significantly alter the insulin response. No evidence was obtained for a major component of insulin release attributable to either bulk or pre-absorption phenomena such as sight or smell. It is concluded that a significant accentuation of the insulin response to meals is dependent on a minimum amount of protein and that this is probably mediated by one of the gastro-intestinal hormones. Glucagon release is dependent on protein and carbohydrate content of the meal and is independent of the fat content. There may also be an early stimulation of glucagon release, regardless of content, which may also be hormonally mediated.     

Hormone-induced refractoriness to mammary carcinogenesis in Wistar- Furth rats

One of the most consistent results in the epidemiology of human breast cancer is the inverse relationship of risk and early full-term parity. The goal of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms through which early full-term pregnancy protects the breast from cancer development. We used Wistar-Furth (WF) rats as our experimental system and mimicked pregnancy using estrogen and progesterone (E/P). Sexually mature female rats were treated with steroid hormones for 21 days and after 28 days of gland involution, the rats were administered MNU. Rats that received a high dose of 20 microg E and 20 mg P exhibited an 82% reduction in the incidence of mammary adenocarcinomas as compared to the rats receiving only blank pellets. Decreasing doses of E/P were partially protective suggesting that complete differentiation of the gland was not required for refractoriness. We measured the RNA expression levels of several target genes involved in the regulation of mammary cell proliferation and/or differentiation including estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), cyclins D1 and D2, the cell cycle inhibitors p16, p21 and p27, and the tumor suppressor p53. At the time of MNU treatment we found no significant differences in the expression of these genes, with the possible exception of p21, indicating that hormone treatment did not result in constitutive changes in expression levels. The numbers of apoptotic cells were low and comparable in the hormone exposed and age-matched virgin gland (AMV) at the time of carcinogen challenge and remained low for 8 days after MNU treatment. The number of BrdU-labeled cells at the time of carcinogen challenge were also low in both the AMV (1.8%) and hormone exposed (0.8%) animals. In contrast, cell proliferation in the AMV (5.7%) was significantly different from both the parous involuted (1.2%) and the E/P-treated involuted (1.5%) animals 8 days after MNU treatment. We interpret these data to indicate that hormone treatment results in mammary epithelial cells that have persistent alterations in intracellular pathways governing proliferation responses to carcinogens.      

Ethno-Botanical Study of Medicinal Plants of Paddar Valley of Jammu and Kashmir,India

The Paddar Valley, historically known as Sapphire Valley situated in Kishtwar district, is a prime landmark in the Jammu region of J&K state and is known for its rich cultural and plant diversity because of diverse habitats such as rivers, streams, meadows and steep mountain slopes. The area is located in the dry temperate region comprising typical vegetation which disappears completely on the eastern slopes, dominated by a variety of economical species which play an important role in the rural life. The inhabitants are dependent on plant resources for food, fuel, timber, shelter, fodder/forage, household articles and traditional medicines in treating diseases like malaria, cancer, gastro-intestinal ailments, etc. This paper deals with the observations on traditional therapeutic application by the inhabitants of Paddar Valley. The ethno-botanical information on medicinal plants would not only be useful in conservation of traditional cultures and biodiversity but also community health care and drug development. Exploration survey in Paddar Valley has revealed that people collect and sell these medicinal species through local intermediaries / contractors to earn their livelihood. But the scientific cultivation and appropriate post-harvest management would improve employment opportunity and income of local farmers in the region.     

Seroprevalence of HBV and HIV co-infection in children and outcomes following highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Uyo,South-South Nigeria

Background

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis B Virus (HIV/HBV) co-infection in Nigerian children has emerged as a major concern with the advent of HAART. Its impact on the immune system and liver has not been extensively studied in children.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of HBV seropositivity among HIV positive children on HAART and its effect on immune response and liver enzymes.

Methods

All consecutive HIV positive children aged two months to seventeen years on HAART constituted the study population. Age and gender; CD4+ count, ALT, creatinine and HBsAg were tested and documented at enrolment and 12months.

Results

One hundred and seventy one patients were seen over this period. Seventy-two (43.4%) were males while 94 (56.6%) were females giving a male: female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean age of the patients was 63±43.4 months. Prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection was 6.02% (95% CI 2.4–9.7). There was no significant effect of HBV status on elevation of ALT levels with 12 months of HAART. Co-infected patients had an odds ratio of achieving immune response of 0.14 (95% CI 0.02–0.79).

Conclusion

HIV/HBV co-infection rates in our children are comparable to other localities. ALT levels do not worsen with HAART and immune response of the co-infected children on HAART is lower.     

Reliability testing of a sun exposure questionnaire for the Northern Ireland population

BACKGROUND: Sunbathing and other types of exposure to ultraviolet radiation are the major preventable risk factors for skin cancer. Due to the continued increase in incidence of melanoma in Northern Ireland, we have conducted a questionnaire survey in an attempt to gather information about sunbathing habits and other forms of ultraviolet light exposure amongst the Northern Ireland population. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of a questionnaire used in a large-scale cross-sectional population survey pertaining to sunbathing habits, use of sun screen, skin types, and frequencies of sunburn and to assess the responses given by the subjects to determine the nature of their sun-related behaviour. METHODS: Thirty control subjects were randomly selected from a population control sample participating in a large case-control study investigating melanoma in the Northern Ireland population. All participants completed the interview questionnaire on two occasions, with a median of 15 days (range, 12-42 days) between interviews. We randomly chose control subjects who had been visited by the same research nurse, thus ruling out interobserver bias in the analyses. We used the test-retest method. Kappa statistics were used to calculate the association between test and retest scores of all the individual items. If the items contained within the questionnaire are reliable, then repeated measurement after a fairly short period of time should result in high within-subject repeatability. RESULTS: Questions pertaining to hours spent in the sun and sun bed usage showed high reliability (kappa > 0.7). Questions about sunscreen usage showed moderately high reliability (kappa > 0.6) in all but one of the 10-year age bands and complete agreement (kappa = 1) in one age category (>50 years). CONCLUSION: This questionnaire is a reliable method of assessing sun-associated behaviour identifying high-risk sun-related behaviour and misconceptions about tanning, which can be targeted for improvement in public health.     

Progenitor cell assays predict hematopoietic reconstitution after syngeneic transplantation in mice

Hematopoietic reconstitution following syngeneic bone marrow transplantation with graded doses of untreated and drug-treated bone marrow was studied in B6D2F1 mice. Granulocyte-macrophage colony- forming units (CFU-GM) and spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) showed similar in vitro drug sensitivities. Both the speed of hematologic recovery and survival of mice transplanted with untreated or drug- treated bone marrow were directly related to the number of CFU-GM or CFU-S transplanted. Similar hematologic recovery was seen for untreated marrow transplants and treated transplants that had similar CFU-GM or CFU-S content. There is a minimum number of transplanted CFU-GM or CFU- S that allows survival of lethally irradiated mice. This number is present in a marrow transplant containing the equivalent of 5 X 10(3) untreated cells or producing one to two spleen colonies. There also exists a maximum value for the number of hematopoietic progenitors in a marrow graft, above which the rate of hematologic recovery following transplantation is rapid and no detectable increase in the rate is seen with increasing CFU-GM or CFU-S content. The presence of this maximum value for transplanted progenitors and variations in culture techniques are probably the reasons previous studies have not always shown a correlation between CFU-GM content and hematologic recovery after bone marrow transplantation.