The pupillary light reflex. 1. Age-dependent and age-independent parameters in normal subjects.

A hundred and three normal subjects (14-75 years old) were examined with a modified infrared TV videopupillometer that had previously been developed. Maximal pupillary diameter (p less than 0.00001), pupillary diameter in percent of iris diameter (p less than 0.00001), maximal pupillary area (p less than 0.00001), latency time of the light reflex (p less than 0.00001), maximal contraction velocity (p less than 0.00002), contraction velocity at 1 s (p less than 0.00001) and dilatation velocity at 6 s (p less than 0.0001) are strongly age dependent. A statistical formula is given to allow the calculation of the exact percentile for every parameter. Parameters which are age independent if they are expressed in percent of the maximal pupillary area are contraction velocity at 1 s (r = 0.042, p = 0.68) and dilatation velocity at 6 s (r = -0.150, p = 0.13). They can be used if age-matched study groups are not available. Furthermore, it is shown that most parameters of the pupillary light reflex correlate significantly with each other. The highest correlations are found with the maximal pupillary area. Differences between sexes are not evident. It is thought that this infrared videopupillometry and the given data base are useful for further clinical studies to investigate the autonomic nervous system.     

Zur Frage der Naevobasaliome

Zusammenfassung 4 Fälle mit multiplen unterschiedlich differenzierten Naevobasaliomen werden als Stütze für die Theorie über der Herkunft epidermoidaler Naevi und Basaliome vom primären Epithelkeim herangezogen. Bei einer 45 jährigen Frau handelt es sich um die Kombination von Basalzellnaevi und vulgären Basaliomen sowie weiteren Entwicklungsanomalien (Epidermiscysten, neurofibromatösen Naevi, Teleangiektasien und möglicherweise früher vorhandenen Zahncysten). Eine 57 jährige Frau (Fall 4) zeigt polymorph gestaltete Basalzellnaevi mit Übergängen zu Trichoepitheliom und Basaliomen von cylindromatösem Charakter.Weiterhin wird über ein familiäres Auftreten von Trichoepitheliom bei Mutter, Tochter und Sohn berichtet, mit gut feigengroßem, cutan-subcutan gelegenem Tumor der Lendengegend bei der Mutter. Histologisch zeigen die Tumoren der Mutter unterschiedliche Entwicklungsstufen, von denen die Geschwulst der Lendengegend den niedrigsten Differenzierungsgrad mit mehreren Entwicklungsrichtungen (Trichoepitheliom, Cylindrom und angedeutet Syringom und calcifizierendes Epitheliom) aufweist, weshalb unter Berücksichtigung der formalen und kausalen Genese auch von einem Hamartoma suborganoides folliculare et cylindromatosum (sive adenomatosum) gesprochen werden kann.Mit 13 Textabbildungen     

Toxigenic Fusarium spp. as determinants of trichothecene mycotoxins in settled grain dust

Trichothecenes are immunosuppressive mycotoxins produced mainly by Fusarium spp. and often are detected as natural contaminants of grain and other agricultural products. Exposure to trichothecenes through inhalation during grain work may represent possible health risks for grain farmers. We aimed, therefore, to investigate the level of Fusarium spp. and trichothecenes in settled grain dust collected during work on 92 Norwegian farms. Mycotoxins were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, whereas the Fusarium spp. were identified and quantified both by species-specific semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by cultivation. All potential trichothecene-producing molds in the grain dust were quantified using a PCR assay specific for tri5, the gene coding for trichodiene synthase that catalyzes the first step in the trichothecene biosynthesis. We performed correlation analysis between mold-DNA and mycotoxins to assess whether the PCR-detected DNA could be used as indicators of the mycotoxins. The methodological problem of detecting small amounts of airborne mycotoxins during grain work may then be avoided. Whereas the trichothecene-producing Fusarium species in grain dust could not be identified or quantified to a sufficient extent by cultivation, all investigated Fusarium spp. could be specifically detected by PCR and quantified from the DNA agarose gel band intensities. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation between the trichothecenes HT-2 toxin (HT-2) or T-2 toxin (T-2) and DNA specific for tri5 (r = 0.68 for HT-2 and r = 0.50 for T-2; p < 0.001), F. langsethiae (r = 0.77 for HT-2 and r = 0.59 for T-2; p < 0.001), or F. poae (r = 0.41 for HT-2 and r = 0.35 for T-2; p < 0.001). However, only a moderate correlation was observed between the trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON) and the combination of its producers, F. culmorum and F. graminearum (r = 0.24, p = 0.02), and no significant correlation was observed between DON and tri5. PCR clearly improved the detection of toxigenic Fusaria as potential sources of health risks for farmers inhaling grain dust during work, but the use of Fusarium-DNA as indicators for trichothecenes should be used cautiously.     

The production of 10-hydroxystearic and 10-ketostearic acids is an alternative route of oleic acid transformation by the ruminal microbiota in cattle

The formation of hydroxystearic acid (HSA) and ketostearic acid (KSA) from oleic acid transformation has been documented in a variety of microbial species, including several isolated from the rumen of domesticated ruminant species. However, their ruminal production rates have not been established as influenced by fatty acid source. Dosing continuous cultures of mixed ruminal microorganisms with 1-(13C)-oleic acid increased the 13C enrichment of both HSA and KSA at 24 h postdosing, and showed that the majority (96 and 85%, respectively) of the HSA and KSA present in the 24-h samples originated from oleic acid. Several experiments using batch cultures of ruminal microorganisms showed that production of HSA and KSA was directly related to oleic acid input but was not affected by elaidic acid input, and that HSA was further metabolized to KSA but not to other fatty acids. When continuous cultures of ruminal microorganisms were supplemented with soybean oil or canola oil, production of 10-HSA + 10-KSA was related to oleic acid input but not to linoleic acid input. Daily production of 10-HSA + 10-KSA across treatments was 14.4 micromol/100 micromol oleic acid input into the cultures or 31.1 micromol/100 micromol oleic acid net loss. The results of this study quantify the formation of 10-HSA and 10-KSA from oleic acid transformation by ruminal microorganisms, and show that their accumulation in ruminal contents is directly related to the extent of oleic acid input and biotransformation by the rumen microbiota.     

Depth of the thoracic epidural space in children

Thoracic epidural anaesthesia in anaesthetized children requires a meticulous technique and may have an increased success rate when the distance between skin and epidural space is known. The objective of this observational study was to measure the skin to epidural distance (SED) during thoracic epidural puncture in 61 children. The epidural puncture was performed using the loss of resistance technique with saline 0.9%. The distance from the needle tip to the point where the needle emerged from the skin was measured. The post-operative analgesia parameters were also measured. Skin to epidural distance correlated significantly with the age and weight of the children. The equation for the relation between SED (cm) and age was 2.15 + (0.01 x months) and for SED vs weight was 1.95 + (0.045 x kg). Despite considerable variability among individuals, the observed correlation of SED with both age and weight shows that this parameter may be helpful to guide thoracic epidural puncture in anaesthetized children.