A controlled study of oxygen metabolite release by alveolar macrophages from children with interstitial lung disease

The ability of alveolar macrophages (AM) to release O2 metabolites was studied in 8 children with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and in 11 children without lung parenchyma disorder. AM were collected by bronchoalveolar lavage. The experiments were performed on unstimulated AM and on AM stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or zymosan. Our results indicated that, with or without triggering agent, the amount of O2 metabolites release was a linear function pattern with time. The accumulation of superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into the extracellular medium differed depending on the triggering agent used: with PMA, the amount of O2- released was threefold the amount of H2O2 detected in the medium, whereas with zymosan the O2- accumulation was tenfold higher than the amount of H2O2 measured. In patients with ILD, a significant increase in the amount of H2O2 release was observed for both unstimulated and stimulated AM (p less than 0.001). In this group, the measurement was repeated after a 2-month steroid treatment: prednisone had markedly improved the clinical, radiologic, and functional status of the patients, and this improvement was in good correlation with the decrease of O2 metabolite production. The amount of H2O2 release in each case was within the range of control values. Evaluation of O2 metabolite release by AM could be a useful parameter in the assessment of the activity of ILD.     

A Management of Early CRPS I Caused by Ankle Sprain: A Case Report

Abstract:   We present a case of a 13-year-old boy who developed signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain/early Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Type I, formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), after spraining his ankle while wrestling. Aggressive pain control, using medications and sympatholytic blocks, with physical therapy and rehabilitation, led to the resolution of his painful condition. This prevented the disease from possibly progressing to a full-blown case of CRPS I (RSD) that is very challenging to treat.     

Sonoanatomy of the foot

Summary To show the possibilities of imaging diagnostic procedures using high and extremely high resolution ultrasonic probes we investigated the anatomic structures of the foot. We examinated 10 cadaver foots of the anatomic institute and in a clinical trial 20 healthy patients with 10 to 20-MHz-probes and could identify correctly single tendons and ligaments even in the toe region. Especially the possibility of dynamic examination had to be mentioned beside the other advantages of ultrasound diagnostic (saving of expenses, lack of radiation, side-to-side comparison).      

First evidence of fatal hantavirus nephropathy in India, mimicking leptospirosis.

Sir, In a recent Indian serosurvey [1], it was announced that ‘noreports of hantavirus infections in humans from India existed[before 2005]’. We wish to point out that serologicaland clinical evidence of hantavirus infection in India was alreadywell documented before 2005. From 1998 on, we screened leptospirosis-suspected cases in Indiafor the only known cosmopolitan hantavirus serotype, Seoul virus(SEOV). Wild rats are the reservoir     

Radiofrequency ablation of a slow pathway in AV-nodal tachycardia.

A 35-year-old woman with frequent attacks of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and psychiatric background was submitted to ablation of AV-nodal tachycardia. Before ablation, tachycardia with a cycle length of 455 ms was easily induced with regular atrial stimulation or with one extrastimulus. Radiofrequency current (35 Watts) was applied on a site, localized between the His bundle and the ostium of the coronary sinus. The local electrogram showed an atrial activation 20 ms before the atrial activation at the His bundle site during tachycardia. Application terminated AV-nodal tachycardia within 2.5 seconds. Two back-up applications were given during sinus rhythm. At the control study, conduction over the slow pathway was abolished, and the fast conduction remained intact with a Wenckebach 2:1 block point at 180 beats/min. She remained free of recurrences with a follow-up of more than 3 months. The possibility of selective ablation of the slow pathway in AV-nodal tachycardia is discussed.     

Comparative study of oral conditions in schoolchildren of Strasbourg, France, 1974–85

A representative sample of 1650 children randomly selected in the 6-15-yr-old schoolchild population of Strasbourg was examined by well-calibrated examiners. The prevalence of caries was determined with the DMFT, DMFS and dft indices using bitewing radiographs. Plaque, calculus and gingival indices were also determined. The results obtained were compared with the initial study of 1974 performed in Strasbourg using the same epidemiologic methods. Whereas no important variations were observed in caries prevalence of primary teeth, a significant reduction of caries activity was observed in DMFT and DMFS indices in all age groups. There was a reduction of these two indices of respectively 32% and 33% in the 12-yr-old children. The reduction was the most significant on approximal surface lesions. A statistically significant decrease of the calculus and gingival indices was also observed between 1974 and 1984. A less significant decrease was observed for the plaque index.