Effect of metoprolol and pindolol monotherapy on plasma lipid- and lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (including the HDL subclasses) in mild hypertensive males and females.

Forty-five patients with mild hypertension were treated for 2 months with either metoprolol or pindolol in a randomized, blind, crossover study. The effects of metoprolol (100-300 mg/day) and pindolol (5-15 mg/day) on triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and HDL subfraction (HDL2-C and HDL3-C) levels were compared in males and females separately. Pindolol and metoprolol significantly elevated (10% above baseline level) the plasma TG level in both males and females. After metoprolol treatment, the HDL-C level remained unchanged in both sexes; however, a shift was found between HDL2-C and HDL3-C:HDL2-C decreased and a concomitant elevation in HDL3-C was observed. Pindolol significantly decreased total C, HDL-C, and HDL2-C levels in males. A similar trend (although the changes were not significant) was found in females. The results demonstrate the role of beta blockers in the inhibition of TG-rich lipoprotein elimination. These findings suggest that during long-term administration of metoprolol and pindolol, risks and benefits from beta-blocker therapy must be carefully considered. Continuous monitoring of lipid profiles is suggested during this treatment in order to avoid the potential worsening effect of beta blockers on risk factors of ischemic heart disease.     

Thermal injury in pregnancy--the neglected tragedy

Thermal injury sustained during pregnancy presents special management problems for the gravid woman and her unborn child. Because of the reported high morbidity and mortality and lack of available data in South Africa, a multicentre retrospective review was undertaken by five burn centres. Thirty-three patients (average age 25,7 years) with mean 30% (range 1-80%) total body surface area burn were assessed. A review of the clinical material led to the following observations and conclusions. Pregnancy does not influence maternal outcome after thermal injury and maternal survival is usually accompanied by fetal survival in the absence of significant maternal complications. Maternal survival is less likely if the burn wound exceeds 50% total body surface area. Thermal injury does increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature labour, and fetal survival depends on fetal maturity. Early obstetric intervention is only indicated in the gravely ill patient where complications (hypoxia, hypotension, sepsis) jeopardize the life of a viable fetus. The mode of delivery should be determined by obstetric considerations.     

Prostaglandin-Independent Stimulation of Interleukin-6 Production by Fibrinogen Degradation Product D in Perfused Murine Liver

Bacterial endotoxin (LPS) and fibrinogen degradation product D (FDP-D) are both potent stimulators of interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in liver, however, there are differences in their metabolic effects. The aim of the present study was to compare the role of prostaglandins in the enhancement of IL-6 production by LPS or FDP-D in perfused mouse livers. Indomethacin inhibited the effect of LPS significantly but was ineffective in the case of FDP-D. Accordingly, production of prostaglandins D₂ and E₂ was not elevated following the addition of FDP-D, while their formation was increased several fold by LPS. At the same time interleukin-1 (IL-1) production in perfused liver rose markedly upon the addition of FDP-D. It is suggested that prostaglandins are not involved in the effects of FDP-D on the liver. The stimulatory effect of FDP-P on IL-6 production might be the consequence of elevated IL-1 levels.     

Asbestos bodies in lung tissue following exposure to crocidolite

A series of 206 necropsies in Western Australia (WA) have had routine counts made of asbestos bodies in samples of lung tissue using conventional light microscopy. Thirty-two cases had worked in the asbestos industry at Wittenoom, WA and (log) counts of asbestos bodies in their lung tissue correlated well with estimates of their (log) cumulative airborne exposure to crocidolite fibers (r = 0.60). There was no association between the number of asbestos bodies and time since exposure to asbestos ceased. In subjects without known exposure to asbestos, there was a weak but nonsignificant increase in number of asbestos bodies with increasing age, with 26% of cases having no asbestos bodies present. It is concluded that the relatively simple technique of light microscopy for counting of asbestos bodies in lung tissue provides a reliable indication of the level of past occupational exposure to crocidolite in subjects whose exposure has been only to crocidolite. This could be extremely useful in follow-up studies of cohorts that lack reliable measures of airborne exposure to crocidolite asbestos.     

Characterization of the Sendai virus V protein with an anti-peptide antiserum.

The Sendai virus V protein, which is a fusion of the P and V ORFs of the P gene, was characterized with antisera to a portion of the V ORF and compared to the P protein. The only property found in common with P is that V is also highly phosphorylated, and this is so even when these proteins are expressed independently of the other viral proteins. Otherwise, V was not found in virions, was not strongly associated with viral nucleocapsids like P, and anti-V had no effect on viral RNA synthesis in vitro under conditions where anti-P was highly inhibitory. The available evidence suggests that V may play a role in RNA synthesis, but it is not an essential one like that of the P protein.     

Histopathological changes of primary HIV infection. Description of three cases and review of the literature

The histopathological changes observed in the cutaneous rash of three patients who suffered the acute phase of HFV infection are described. In all three patients a perivascular and interstitial inflammatory infiltrate was present in the upper and mid-reticular dermis. In one biopsy isolated areas of epidermal necrosis were observed and in the two other biopsies a perifollicular inflammatory infiltrate was detected with perforation in one case. Furthermore, a periductal infiltrate was observed in one of these biopsies.     

Rapid determination of trisomy 18 parental origin using fluorescent PCR and small tandem repeat markers: case reports

Trisomy 18 is the second most common genetic defect after trisomy 21, almost 90% of which are due to additional chromosome from the mother. The parental origin of the additional chromosome can, if required, be determined by two methods: karyotyping, which takes several weeks; or, more recently, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which is often problematic. Fluorescent PCR of small tandem repeats (STRs) can determine the parental origin in the majority of cases within 5 h. Although the incidence of paternal origin is known for both trisomy 21 and trisomy 18, this technique can rapidly determine the parental origin in cases where there is insufficient samples to perform conventional tests. Determining parental origin by these methods may also have clinical significance in the diagnosis of chromosomal translocations or in the diagnosis of genetic disease using linkage analysis.