The barium enema scout film: cost effectiveness and clinical efficacy

The authors prospectively evaluated 1,001 consecutive double-contrast barium enema examinations to determine the efficacy of the preliminary film. The scout films were evaluated for the presence of unsatisfactory amounts of residual feces and clinically significant extracolonic abnormalities. The contrast studies were independently evaluated in a double-blind manner for satisfactory colonic preparation as well as extracolonic abnormalities. The routine use of the scout film resulted in an increase in health care charges and departmental costs. In addition, there was no significant increase in the detection of extracolonic abnormalities. Our data suggest that routine use of scout films prior to contrast studies is unnecessary, although selective use in some clinical situations may be justified.     

Ethyl ferulate, a lipophilic polyphenol, induces HO-1 and protects rat neurons against oxidative stress

In the CNS, the heme oxygenase (HO) system has been reported to be active and to operate as a fundamental defensive mechanism for neurons exposed to an oxidant challenge. We have recently shown that both curcumin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester, two phenolic natural compounds, potently induce HO-1 expression and activity in rat astrocytes. We have extended our previous findings examining the effects of two other plant-derived phenolic compounds, with analogous chemical structures, in rat astrocytes and neurons. Ethyl ferulate (ethyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate) (EFE), the naturally occurring ester of ferulic acid, was able to induce HO-1 protein expression. Maximal expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein and a significant increase in HO activity were detected after 6 h of incubation with 15 microM EFE in astrocytes and 5 microM EFE in neurons. Higher concentrations of EFE (50 microM) caused a substantial cytotoxic effect with no change in HO-1 protein expression and activity. Exposure of astrocytes to resveratrol, a phytoalexin derived from grapes, resulted in an increase of HO-1 mRNA, but it was not able to induce HO-1 protein expression and activity. Interestingly, preincubation (12 h) of neurons with EFE resulted in an enhanced cellular resistance to glucose oxidase-mediated oxidative damage; this cytoprotective effect was considerably attenuated by zinc protoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of HO activity. This study identifies a novel natural compound that could be used for therapeutic purposes as a potent inducer of HO-1 for the protection of brain cells against oxidative and neurodegenerative conditions.     

Morphometric study of atrioventricular orifices of postmortem hearts of adult Bangladeshi people

To study the circumference of atrioventricular orifices of the Bangladeshi adult people, fifty postmortem hearts were collected, fixed in 10% formol saline and examined. In the present paper, the findings were compared between male and female values and also with the findings of Western and Bangladeshi researchers. Among fifty hearts, thirty-six hearts were collected from male and fourteen hearts were collected from female cadavers. The findings suggest that the atrioventricular orifices of the hearts examined were lower in circumferences as compared to those described in the available texts. The female values were slightly lower than the male values but on statistical analyses, they showed no significant difference (P > 0.05).     

Chronic Caffey's disease: an uncommon entity in children

Chronic Caffey's disease in an uncommon condition in children is characterized by an acute inflammatory reaction in the periosteum along with systemic disturbances. A 30 months old boy was reported in the pediatric unit of BSMMU, Dhaka about two and half years back with the complaints of multiple painful soft tissue swelling in different parts of the body since birth and delay in growth and development. The child was found well and alert, moderately pale, febrile with hard, tender swelling of mandible on both sides. There were multiple swellings over the right arm, forearm, both thighs and bowing of the lower limbes. Investigations revealed normal serum calcium and phosphate level with mild elevation of alkaline phosphatase. Radiological findings showed periosteal new bone formation in mandible and long bones. There was diaphyseal expansion of the long bones with expansion of the ribs anteriorly. He was diagnosed as a case of chronic caffey's disease on the basis of history, clinical examination and investigation.     

Characterization of the carcinogen 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5- f]quinoxaline in cooking aerosols under domestic conditions

Lung cancer in women is the leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Most Chinese women are non-smokers and 60% of female lung cancer patients have adenocarcinomas. Epidemiological data indicate that the incidence of lung cancer among Chinese women may be correlated with cooking fumes. However, the carcinogenic compound(s) in cooking fume aerosols is not defined. In the present study, the cooking aerosols from Chinese stir-frying of fish were prepared under domestic conditions. To determine the mutagenic compounds in the cooking aerosol, mutagens were purified by two steps of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their mutagenicity was monitored with Salmonella typhimurium TA98. The mutagen was eluted as a single peak. The chemical structure of the mutagenic fraction of cooking aerosol from frying of fish was characterized by UV spectra and electrospray mass spectrometry. The bacterial indirect-acting mutagenic compound in the cooking aerosol extract was determined to be 2-amino-3,8- dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx). An amount of 0.25 ng MeIQx/g of meat per min was estimated based on the mutagenic response. These data indicated that significant amounts of MeIQx (268.1 ng/Chinese dish of frying fish) were present in cooking aerosol in a short time. Chinese women spend approximately 1 h preparing meals everyday, thus, they may be exposed to significant amounts of MeIQx from cooking aerosols in the kitchen.