Determination of the parent of origin in nine cases of prenatally detected chromosome aberrations found after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Prenatal cytogenetic analysis of 71 fetuses conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) resulted in the detection of nine (12.7%) chromosome aberrations including two cases of 47,XXY, four cases involving a 45,X cell line and three autosomal trisomies. Molecular analysis of the parental origin of the deleted or supernumerary chromosome was performed by using polymorphic microsatellite markers. Six cases involving a sex chromosome abnormality were found to be of paternal origin while the two trisomic cases that could be analysed were of maternal origin. Two cases involved the same infertile couple who had two consecutive ICSI pregnancies terminated because of a chromosome abnormality. The replaced embryos in both cases originated from a single batch of ICSI fertilized oocytes of which part was used to initiate the first pregnancy and part was cryopreserved and used to initiate the second pregnancy.      

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Minor Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Chinese Americans: A Pilot Study

There is a high prevalence of suicide amongelderly Chinese, and particularly among elderly Chinesewomen in Mainland China with a prevalence of 19.6 perhundred thousand. Since Chinese individuals may much more highly value education, acognitive-behavioral package originated by RicardoMunoz, Ph.D. was adapted for Chinese American subjects.The material was videotaped in eight sessions,approximately 25 minutes in length, to be shown to communitysubjects who were at least 40 years and over. Inaddition, a videotape of muscular relaxation techniqueswas made. A manual written in Chinese about the content of each class, was given to each subject whenhe/she attended. The experimental group showedsignificant improvement in the scores in the HamiltonDepression Scale, including the Somatic Subscale in the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. There was nosignificant improvement in the control group on any ofthe measures. Thus the study suggests the efficacy ofpsychoeducational classes in reducing symptoms ofdepression in non-patient community elderly. Other studiesare being conducted among Korean Americans and JapaneseAmericans in the United States, and also in the Orientamong Japanese elderly.     

Comparing sulindac with indomethacin for closure of ductus arteriosus in preterm infants

Objectives: A prospective study comparing the efficiacy and side-effects of oral sulindac with intravenous indomethacin in clinically stable preterm infants (<1750 g) requiring non-invasive closure of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.
Methodology: As maturity and birthweight are the two major determinants of ductal closure, infants were matched as closely as possible for these parameters. An eligible patient was first assigned to the sulindac group and a subsequent patient with similar gestational age (± 1 week) and birthweight (±100 g) to the previously recruited infant would automatically receive indomethacin. A total of eight infants were enrolled in each group.
Results: The ductus arteriosus was successfully closed in all eight infants receiving indomethacin, and in seven of eight infants receiving sulindac. No significant differences were found with regards to the ductal size between the two groups at diagnosis or on each of the consecutive days of treatment ( P >0.25). More renal adverse effects were encountered in the indomethacin group. Significant differences in changes from baseline value for urine output, plasma sodium, urea and creatinine concentrations were noted at 24, 48 and 72 h after commencement of treatment between the two groups ( P <0.05). All the parameters returned to normal or pre-treatment levels 48 h after stopping therapy. Unexpectedly, severe gastrointestinal complications were encountered in the sulindac group.
Conclusions: Sulindac is capable of promoting ductal constriction in clinically stable preterm infants without compromising the renal function. The spectrum of gastrointestinal complications observed in sulindac treated infants were similar to those described for indomethacin. The use of sulindac for ductal closure in the preterm infant should remain experimental.     

Therapeutic studies in NZB/W mice. I. Synergy of azathioprine,cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in combination

This study compares different immunosuppressive regimens in the treatment of the lupus-like nephritis of NZB/W mice. Groups of 5-month-old female NZB/W mice were given azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in all one-, two- and three-drug regimens, each drug in the relatively low dose of 1.5 mg/kg/day. Treatment for 3 months with one or two drugs resulted in modest suppression of NZB/W disease. Mice receiving all three drugs had significantly less proteinuria, lower titers of anti-DNA antibody and less severe, histologically evident renal involvement than mice treated with one or two drugs. Survival at 1 year was 10% for untreated controls, 44% for one-drug-treated, 37% for two-drug-treated and 86% for the three-drug-treated mice. The survival for the three-drug regimen was significantly longer than any other group (P < 0.01). The three-drug regimen was synergistic, since mice treated with each drug at three times the dose had significantly more proteinuria after 3 months of treatment and lowered 1 year survival (33%). The beneficial effects of triple-drug therapy were attained without increased toxicity. This study represents the first controlled evaluation of single versus combination therapy in a model of autoimmune disease. Based on these results, a controlled evaluation of triple-drug therapy in human systemic lupus erythematosus appears warranted.     

Fatal Ingestion of Plastic Resin Catalyst

A 46-year-old man ingested approximately 50 ml of a plastic resin catalyst He developed persistent gastrointestinal bleeding, renal and hepatic failure, pneumonitis, and septicemia, and died four weeks later. Autopsy revealed chronic esophagitis and gastritis with massive intraluminal gastrointestinal hemorrhage. This case emphasizes the potential danger of ingestion of such substances.     

Perforation Rates for Nonsterile Examination Gloves in Routine Dermatologic Procedures

BACKGROUND: Low cost, nonsterile examination gloves are used routinely to perform various dermatologic procedures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perforation rate of nonsterile examination gloves in routine dermatologic procedures. METHODS: Three hundred fifty nonsterile latex examination gloves used to perform shave biopsies were evaluated for perforations using an air inflation/water submersion method. Ninety gloves, which were intentionally perforated with a 30-gauge needle, were used as controls to assess our evaluation method. RESULTS: Eight of the 350 gloves were found to have a perforation, which corresponds to a 2.3% perforation rate. Seven of the eight perforations were found in the web space between the second and third finger sleeves, with one being an obvious manufacturing error. All 90 perforations of the control group were correctly identified. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a very low risk of glove perforation when nonsterile examination gloves are used in routine dermatologic procedures.     

Impregnation of bone chips with antibiotics and storage of antibiotics at different temperatures: an <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> study

Background  

Allograft bone used in joint replacement surgery can additionally serve as a carrier for antibiotics and serve as a prophylaxis against infections. However, in vitro dose-response curves for bone chips impregnated with different kinds of antibiotics are not available. In addition, while it would be desirable to add the antibiotics to allograft bone chips before these are stored in a bone bank, the effects of different storage temperatures on antibiotics are unknown.     

Anxiety, depressive, and posttraumatic stress symptoms in mothers of children with type 1 diabetes

This study investigated the prevalence of mothers' anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms triggered by their child's type 1 diabetes and identified individual diabetes-related traumatic stressors. Sixty mothers of children who had been diagnosed with diabetes within the past 5 years were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) DSM-IV-PTSD module, and completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Fifteen percent of participants met criteria for partial and 10% for full PTSD. Fifty-five percent of participants identified hearing about their child's diagnosis as the traumatic stressor. Forty percent of participants reported moderate to severe symptoms of state-anxiety and 17% moderate to severe symptoms of depression. This study highlights the significant emotional impact this diagnosis in children can have on mothers, and identifies a population with clinical needs.