Cerebral energy reserves of mice during seizures induced by 3-mercaptopropionic acid

Convulsions were induced in mice by the intraperitoneal injection of 3-mercaptopropionic acid. Energy metabolism of the cerebral cortex was studied during the first clonic seizure and during the recovery period (10 and 30 min after the end of convulsions). At the onset of a seizure the content of phosphocreatine, adenosine triphosphate, glucose and glycogen decreased and the level of lactate, adenosine di- and monophosphate increased; the ‘energy charge potential’ of the adenine nucleotide pool was diminished. The calculated extra energy expenditure during seizure was about 40 μequiv. ~ P g^?1.min^?1. Ten minutes after the end of convulsions normal values of phosphocreatine, adenylates and energy charge potential were attained, the content of glucose was increased, while lactate and glycogen levels were partly restored. Lactate content returned to control values after 30 min of recovery, whereas glycogen did not reach its control level until 1 h after the end of convulsions. Na-phenobarbital in a non-anaesthetic dose not only prevented clinical manifestation of 3-mercaptopropionic acid-induced seizures, but also all changes of brain metabolite levels accompanying the convulsions.These observations are discussed and compared with those obtained previously in studies on seizures induced by homocysteine and methionine sulphoximine, i.e. other sulphur-containing convulsants; the changes in brain energy metabolism during seizures induced by 3-mercaptopropionic acid are similar to those observed during homocysteine-induced seizures and differ substantially from changes accompanying convulsions induced by methionine sulphoximine.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus acidophilus</Emphasis> supernatants on body weight and leptin expression in rats

Background  

Lactobacillus extracts and supernatants have been used as probiotics in human and veterinary medicine for their ability to enhance wound healing and immunity. Previous data from our laboratory demonstrated that Lactobacillus supernatant (LS) stimulated wound healing, angiogenesis and proliferation of embryonic cells after topical application. This current study shows that LS after its administration into the cerebral ventricles of male rats exerts systemic effects.     

Mixed medullary and follicular cell carcinoma of the thyroid in a 71-year-old man with history of malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Mixed medullary-follicular carcinoma of the thyroid with a pleomorphic pattern is a rare malignant epithelial tumor characterized by clinical and immunohistochemical features of follicular and parafollicular thyroid cells. Different molecular mechanisms for mixed thyroid tumors have been suggested. CASE REPORT: We describe a 71-year-old man with a history of malignant melanoma with mixed medullary-follicular thyroid carcinoma. Cytology results of a fine needle aspiration biopsy were suspicious of a thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy for a solitary thyroid nodule in the right lobe. No lymph node metastases were present. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed a mixed medullary and follicular cell carcinoma that showed characteristic patterns and calcitonin and thyroglobulin positivities in many of the tumor cells. The tumor was not associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Detection of RET proto-oncogene point mutations in risk exons 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 was negative. Two polymorphisms, one in exon 11 G691S (GGT-->AGT) and another in exon 15 S904S (TCC-->TCG) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: A mixed differentiated thyroid tumor is a diagnostic challenge with fine needle aspiration. Definitive diagnosis remains the domain of histology because of the necessity of topographic information. The origins of this rare tumor entity are unclear. The possible association with the uncommon polymorphism G691S of the RET proto-oncogene is discussed.     

Clinical evaluation of early postpartum pain and healing outcomes after mediolateral versus lateral episiotomy

Objective

To evaluate short-term perineal pain among primiparous women after mediolateral episiotomy (MLE) and lateral episiotomy (LE).

Methods

The prospective randomized study was conducted in the Czech Republic during 2010–2012. Consecutive primiparous women who gave birth at or after 37 weeks of pregnancy and had indications for an episiotomy were enrolled and randomly assigned to undergo MLE or LE. Patients were unaware of the episiotomy type performed. The primary outcomes were pain at 24 hours, 72 hours, and 10 days post partum, measured by a visual analog scale, verbal rating scale, interference with activities of daily living, and amount of analgesic use.

Results

The analysis included 266 women who underwent MLE and 297 women who underwent LE. Complete relief of pain was observed in 6 (2.3%) of 266 women after 24 hours, 21 (8.0%) of 264 after 72 hours, and 77 (29.1%) of 265 after 10 days in the MLE group, and in 11 (3.9%) of 285, 23 (7.7%) of 297, and 78 (26.4%) of 295 in the LE group, respectively (P = 0.36). There were no significant differences in overall pain scores from any rating system or in the amount of analgesics used.

Conclusion

Incidence and extent of pain in the first 10 days after LE correspond to those after adequately performed MLE.     

Egg allergy in patients over 14 years old suffering from atopic eczema

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of egg allergy in patients over 14 years old suffering from atopic eczema and especially to evaluate if egg allergy can deteriorate the course of atopic eczema in this group of patients. Materials and methods Altogether 179 patients suffering from atopic eczema were included in the study: 51 men and 128 women, with an average age of 26.2 years (SD 9.5 years), with median SCORAD 31.6 (SD 13.3) points. A complete allergological and dermatological examination was performed on all patients, including diagnostic work‐up of food allergy to egg [skin prick tests, atopy patch tests (APTs), measurement of specific IgE level to egg yolks or whites]. Open exposure test (OET) with egg was performed in patients with positive results in some of these diagnostic methods. Food allergy to egg was determined according to positive results in the OET or according to sufficient anamnestical data about the severe allergic reaction after the ingestion of an egg. Results An allergy to egg was confirmed in 11 patients out of 179 (6%). Of these patients, only six (3.3%) had a clear improvement in the SCORAD after the elimination of egg. Other triggering factors may cause exacerbation of the atopic eczema in the patients enrolled in the study. Twenty‐eight percent of patients were only sensitized to egg without clinical symptoms. ATPs were a useful tool in the diagnosis of food allergy to egg in patients without IgE reactivity. Conclusion Egg allergy may play an important role in the worsening of atopic eczema acting as a triggering–exacerbating factor in a minority of patients. The diagnostic work‐up may comprise the challenge tests to confirm the food allergy to egg.