Renal smooth muscle hamartoma

A large (4 cm in diameter) smooth muscle tumor was found in the medial aspect of the right kidney in a 54-year-old Caucasian woman with acute hypertension. Clonality assay (HUMARA) showed no evidence of clonal proliferation, and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis failed to identify any copy number genomic change. These findings are consistent with smooth muscle hamartoma, a rare benign renal tumor-like lesion.     

A longitudinal study of dental caries risk among very young low SES children

Abstract – Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a challenging public health problem in the United States and elsewhere; however, there is limited information concerning risk factors in very young children. The purpose of this study was to assess baseline risk factors for 18‐month caries prevalence as part of a longitudinal study of high‐risk children. Methods: About 212 children, 6–24 months of age were recruited from a rural community in Iowa. Subjects were enrolled in the WIC program, which provides nutritional support for low‐income families with children. Dental examinations using d1, d2–3 criteria were conducted at baseline and after 18 months. Caries prevalence was determined at the frank decay level (d2–3 or filled surfaces), as well as at the noncavitated level (d1), and combined (d1, d2–3 or f surfaces). Risk factor data were collected at baseline and after 9‐ and 18‐ months. These data included beverage consumption data, presence of visible plaque, and use of fluoride toothpaste for children as well as mutans streptococci (MS) levels of mothers and children and family sociodemographic factors. Results: About 128 children (60%) remained in the study after 18 months. Among these children, prevalence of d1,d2–3/f level caries increased from 9% to 77%, while d2–3/f level caries increased from 2% to 20%. Logistic regression models for baseline predictors of d2–3f caries at the 18‐month follow‐up found the presence of MS in children (OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.4, 13.9) and sugar‐sweetened beverages (OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 8.6) to be the only significant risk factors. Sociodemographic factors and the use of fluoride toothpaste were not significant in these models. Conclusions: Results suggest that early colonization by MS and consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages are significant predictors of ECC in high‐risk populations.     

Childhood nephrotic syndrome

Thanks to steroid therapy, the long-term outlook for nephrotic children is no longer bleak. The majority respond completely to steroid therapy. Frequent relapses and steroid depend en ce do not appear to alter the outcome negatively.     

Social and environmental perceptions of susceptible and unsusceptible hypnotic subjects

In this investigation the hypothesis waa tested that in hypnosis Ss would provide richer protocols in the House-Tree Person projective technique than in the waking state. Impressionistic analysis tended to support thia view. It was further hypothesized that difierent subteat and total Scores would be yielded in the two states on the Minnesota Personslity Scale. Quantitative findings were statistically insignificant.     

Exercise effect on oxidative stress is independent of change in estrogen metabolism.

PURPOSE: The effect of exercise training on lipid peroxidation and endogenous estrogens is not well understood in premenopausal women. Exercise effects on these variables could mediate observed associations of exercise with hormonally related cancers, including breast cancer. The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of 15 weeks of aerobic exercise on lipid peroxidation, endogenous estrogens, and body composition in young, healthy eumenorrheic women. METHODS: Fifteen sedentary premenopausal women (18-25 years) participated. Pre- and post-exercise training urine collection (three 24-h samples) started 48 h after most recent exercise session for analysis of a marker of lipid peroxidation (F(2)-isoprostane) and endogenous estrogens, including 2-hydroxyestrogens, 4-hydroxyestrogens, 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, and ratios of these metabolites (2:16, 2:4). Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and F(2)-isoprostanes and estrogens were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Aerobic exercise resulted in a 34% decrease in F(2)-isoprostane (P = 0.02), a 10% increase in fitness (P = 0.004), a 1.2 kg decrease in body mass (P = 0.007), and a 1.8 kg decrease in fat mass (P = 0.04). No significant changes were noted in estrogens. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of exercise training on oxidative stress may be relevant to risk for hormonally related cancers.