Trends in pleural radiographic findings in the Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program (1990-1999)

The U.S. Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program is a comprehensive effort to decrease exposure to asbestos, a known health hazard. This study was part of a programmatic review of the Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program database, which included 233,353 radiographic examinations from 1990 to 1999. The initial review focused on incidental findings recorded by B-readers for 23,460 radiographs. Abnormalities reported included bullae (0.68%), cancer (0.56%), cardiac size/ shape abnormalities (1.36%), emphysema (0.74%), subpleural fat (2.62%), fractured ribs (1.24%), hilar adenopathy (0.13%), ill-defined diaphragm (0.46%), ill-defined heart border (0.29%), Kerley lines (0.06%), pleural thickening (2.35%), and tuberculosis (0.27%). The rates by age cohort for pleural abnormalities decreased significantly (30-39 years, chi2 for trend = 23.49, df = 1; 40-49 years, chi2 for trend = 176.21; 50-59 years, chi2 for trend = 401.87), but findings were not significantly different for those > or =60 years of age. This suggests that sequential age cohorts in the program are developing fewer pleural abnormalities; pleural abnormalities have historically been associated with asbestos exposure.     

Incidental detection of pulmonary emboli on routine MDCT of the chest

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence of pulmonary embolism incidentally detected on routine MDCT of the chest and to determine whether the use of wide window settings can improve detection of unsuspected pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of routine contrast-enhanced MDCT scans of the chest obtained in 589 patients was undertaken. CT angiograms obtained for suspected pulmonary embolism or thoracic aorta disease were not considered. Image evaluation was performed on a dedicated workstation during two separate review sessions using different window settings: standard, with a width of 400 H and level of 40 H; and wide, with a width of 600 H and level of 100-150 H. The quality of vascular enhancement was recorded. RESULTS: Eight examinations were excluded because of poor quality. Unsuspected pulmonary embolism was present in 20 (3.4%) of 581 patients with an inpatient prevalence of 4.0% (19/474) and outpatient prevalence of 0.9% (1/107). Fourteen patients (70.0%) with unsuspected pulmonary embolism had cancer. The proximal extent of pulmonary embolism involved the main pulmonary artery in five patients, a lobar artery in five, and a segmental artery in 10; isolated subsegmental thrombi were never found. The use of wide window settings allowed detection of pulmonary embolism in two more patients than did the standard settings. CONCLUSION: Unsuspected pulmonary embolism can be found in a significant number of patients undergoing a routine MDCT study of the chest, with a higher prevalence among inpatients with malignancy. The use of wide window settings is recommended when interpreting routine CT scans of the chest to improve detection of unsuspected pulmonary embolism.     

Preferential alternate segregation in the common t(11;22)(q23;q11) reciprocal translocation: sperm FISH analysis in two brothers

Segregation behaviour studies in t(11;22) carriers have reported controversial results. Whereas some authors have detected a preponderance of 3:1 products, no evidence of such prevalence was found by others. This study reports a fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) segregation analysis on decondensed spermatozoa in two brothers, carriers of the same t(11;22)(q23;q11) rearrangement. Data revealed a similar meiotic segregation pattern in both carriers, 2:2 Alternate segregation being the most frequent (42.94 and 45%), while 3:1 genotypes were the least frequent in both patients, with percentages around 10%. The production of three chiasmata, based on the presence of G-light bands along the translocated segments and the presence of recombination sites at 11q and 22q distal regions, are proposed as the cause of a preponderance of the Alternate segregation. Interchromosomal effects involving chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y were also evaluated. An increased frequency of sex chromosome disomies was detected in one patient. Reviewing the literature, a relationship between this phenomenon and the involvement of acrocentric chromosomes in the reorganization is suggested. FISH segregation and interchromosomal effects studies in spermatozoa are encouraged to gather information to establish the best approach for preimplantational genetic diagnosis in reorganization carriers.     

Contribution of lymphatic drainage through stomata to albumin removal from pleural space

The contribution of lymphatic drainage through the stomata of parietal mesothelium to the overall removal of labeled albumin from the pleural space was found 89% in sheep with very large hydrothoraces (10 ml/kg), a condition involving a approximately 20 times increase in lymphatic drainage [Broaddus et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 64 (1988) 384]. We determined this contribution in anesthetized rabbits with small (0.12 ml/kg) and large (2.4 ml/kg) hydrothoraces of Ringer-albumin with labeled albumin and labeled dextran-2000 kDa. This dextran was used as marker of liquid removal through the stomata because it should essentially leave the pleural space through the stomata only, owing to its size. The removal of labeled albumin by lymphatic drainage through the stomata was 39% of the overall removal in the small hydrothoraces, and 64% in the large ones. Hence, lymphatic drainage through the stomata does not contribute most of protein and liquid removal from the pleural space under physiological conditions, as it has been maintained. It markedly increases with the increase in pleural liquid volume.     

Effects of vitamin E supplementation on intracellular antioxidant enzyme production in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and early microangiopathy

Defective intracellular antioxidant enzyme production (IAP) has been demonstrated in adults with diabetic nephropathy. To evaluate the effects on IAP of vitamin E administration in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and early signs of microangiopathy, 12 adolescents (aged 11-21 y; diabetes duration 10-18) were studied. Eight had retinopathy [background (four), preproliferative (three), or proliferative (one)], four had persistent microalbuminuria, and seven had both. Skin fibroblasts were obtained by biopsies and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD), MnSOD, catalase (CAT), and glutathione-peroxidase (GPX) activity and mRNA expression were measured before and after 3 mo of synthetic vitamin E supplementation (600 mg twice daily); on both occasions, IAP was evaluated at different ex vivo glucose concentrations (5 and 22 mM). Ten adolescents with type 1 diabetes (aged 12-20 y) without angiopathy and eight healthy volunteers (aged 15-22 y) participated as control subjects. Vitamin E serum levels were measured throughout the study. In normal glucose concentrations, CuZnSOD, MnSOD, CAT, and GPX activity and mRNA expression were not different among the groups. In high glucose, CuZnSOD activity and mRNA increased similarly in all groups [angiopathics: 0.96 +/- 0.30 U/mg protein; 9.9 +/- 3.2 mRNA/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). CAT and GPX activity and mRNA did not increase in high glucose only in adolescents with angiopathy (0.35 +/- 0.09; 4.2 +/- 0.1 and 0.52 +/- 0.14; 2.4 +/- 0.9, respectively). MnSOD did not change in any group. Vitamin E supplementation had no effect on any enzymatic activity and mRNA in both normal and hyperglycemic conditions. Adolescents with early signs of diabetic angiopathy have defective IAP and activity, which are not modified by vitamin E.     

Heat-Accelerated Fixation and Rapid Dissection of the Pediatric Brain at Autopsy: A Pragmatic Approach to the Difficulties of Organ Retention

We investigated whether it is possible to accelerate the examination of a pediatric brain at autopsy and thus facilitate its return to the body before a fueral without compromising the quality of the neuropathologic examination. Accelerated fixation and next-day dissection of the brain was performed in selected cases over a 2-year period by using a microwave histologic tissue processor (MicroMed T/T MEGA, Milestone, Sorisole, Italy). Direct comparison of the histolotic appearance and immunohistochemical reactivity of 2 cases, 1 fixed by conventional methods and 1 fixed with the accelerated method, was performed in a blinded fashion by a specialist neuropathologist. Examination of rapidly fixed brain by conventional thin coronal sections was readily achieved. There was no appreciable difference between tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and prepared from conventional formalin-fixed cortical and cerebellar brain tissue and that fixed by rapid heat acceleration. Immunocytochemical studies were not adversely affected by the accelerated heat-fixation process of tissue. Heat-accelerated fixation is a potential method of speeding up the examination of the brain at autopsy without unduly compromising the quality of the neuropathologic examination. pyblished online December 6, 2004     

Metformin administration modulates and restores luteinizing hormone spontaneous episodic secretion and ovarian function in nonobese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of metformin administration on spontaneous LH episodic release in a group of nonobese polycystic ovary (PCOS) patients. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: PCOS patients in a clinical research environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty nonobese PCOS patients were enrolled after informed consent. INTERVENTION(S): All patients underwent hormonal evaluations and a pulsatility study (sampling every 10 minutes for 4 hours) before and at the sixth month of therapy (metformin, 500 mg, p.o. b.i.d.). Ultrasound examinations and Ferriman-Gallwey scoring were also performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Measurements of plasma LH, FSH, estradiol (E(2)), androstenedione (A), 17-hydroxy-progesterone (17-OHP), and testosterone (T), glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations. RESULT(S): After 6 months of metformin administration, the plasma LH, 17-OHP, A, and T levels and LH/FSH ratio were significantly reduced. Insulin sensitivity, expressed as the glucose-to-insulin ratio, was significantly improved under glucose load after 6 months of treatment. Spontaneous LH episodic release showed a significant reduction in pulse amplitude with no changes in pulse frequency. Menstrual cyclicity was restored in all amenorrheic and oligomenorrheic women. The ovarian volume and Ferriman-Gallwey scores also were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION(S): Metformin administration improves reproductive axis functioning in hyperandrogenic nonobese PCOS patients. By acting on the ovary and restoring normal ovarian activity, metformin positively modulates the reproductive axis (namely GnRH-LH episodic release).