Inflammatory central nervous system disease in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice: comparative histologic and immunohistochemical findings

The brains of pathogen-free autoimmune MRL/lpr, NZBWF1 and NZB mice were examined for central nervous system (CNS) inflammation in premoribund 8-week-old animals and at ages when active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was present. CNS inflammation was observed only in MRL/lpr mice. Immunohistochemical studies of brains from young MRL/lpr mice found that infiltrates were composed primarily of CD4+ cells. Older MRL/lpr mice (22 and 26 weeks of age) had CD4+ cells predominantly, but CD8+ and B220+ cells were also present. Perivascular leakage of IgG was a prominent and unexpected finding in the MRL/lpr model. Congenic MRL/+ mice with late-onset autoimmunity had no inflammatory cells in brain tissue, and there was no perivascular staining with IgG or albumin. Our findings suggest that MRL/lpr mice are a useful model for studies of lupus-associated CNS inflammatory disease, and perivascular leakage may be a primary mechanism for entry of IgG into the brain.     

Prevention of travelers' diarrhea by the tablet formulation of bismuth subsalicylate

Within 48 hours of arrival in Mexico, 182 US students participated in a study to compare the efficacy of two dosages of bismuth subsalicylate (262 mg per tablet) as a prophylactic agent against diarrhea. The students were randomly assigned to receive two tablets (high dose) or one tablet (low dose) of bismuth subsalicylate four times daily or a placebo four times daily during a three-week period. Among these completing the trial, diarrhea (four or more unformed stools in 24 hours or three in eight hours, plus one other symptom) occurred in seven (14%) of 51 receiving the high-dose regimen compared with 15 (24%) of 63 receiving the low-dose regimen and 23 (40%) of 58 in the placebo group. Protection rates were 65% for high-dose and 40% for low-dose bismuth subsalicylate. Diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was found in one student receiving the high-dose regimen, in no students receiving the low-dose regimen, and in seven placebo-treated subjects. Bismuth subsalicylate was well tolerated; the most common side effects were blackening of tongues and stools. Bismuth subsalicylate use in both dosages was associated with tinnitus at a low, clinically insignificant frequency of 1.2 days per 100 days of treatment. The dosage of two tablets of bismuth subsalicylate four times daily (2.1 g/d) appears to be a safe and effective means of reducing the occurrence of travelers' diarrhea among persons at risk for periods up to three weeks.     

CT appearance of cervical lipoblastoma

We describe a case of lipoblastoma causing respiratory symptoms in an infant, where CT was useful in establishing the diagnosis and demonstrating the extent of involvement so that complete surgical resection could be planned.     

Renal angiomyolipoma: 6 case reports and literature review

We report 6 cases of renal angiomyolipomas and review the pertinent literature concerning this disease. One case involved the rare association of tuberous sclerosis and pregnancy. Another patient without tuberous sclerosis had renal cell carcinoma and later suffered a contralateral angiomyolipoma. The pathological conditions of renal angiomyolipomas with and without tuberous sclerosis are discussed. Since angiomyolipomas present with multiple clinical similarities to renal cell carcinoma, the primary task for the clinician is to differentiate this hamartoma from carcinoma. The distinguishing characteristics and the clinical management of renal angiomyolipomas are discussed.     

Effects of simplifying choice tasks on estimates of taste heterogeneity in stated-choice surveys

Researchers usually employ orthogonal arrays or D-optimal designs with little or no attribute overlap in stated-choice surveys. The challenge is to balance statistical efficiency and respondent burden to minimize the overall error in the survey responses. This study examined whether simplifying the choice task, by using a design with more overlap, provides advantages over standard minimum-overlap methods. We administered two designs for eliciting HIV test preferences to split samples. Surveys were undertaken at four HIV testing locations in San Francisco, California. Personal characteristics had different effects on willingness to pay for the two treatments, and gains in statistical efficiency in the minimal-overlap version more than compensated for possible imprecision from increased measurement error.     

Neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, and neuropsychiatric evaluation in pediatric and adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD)

Traditionally, neuropsychological deficits due to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) have been understudied in adults. We have begun to suspect, however, that symptomatic and asymptomatic Cerebrovascular Events (CVE) may account for an alarming number of deficits in this population. In the current brief review, we critically evaluated the pediatric and adult literatures on the neurocognitive effects of SCD. We highlighted the studies that have been published on this topic and posit that early detection of CVE via neurocognitive testing, neuropsychiatric evaluations, and neuroimaging may significantly reduce adult cognitive and functional morbidities.     

Dual-source-Computertomographie des Herzens

In a newly developed dual-source computed tomography system (DSCT) the relation of heart rate and image quality and the possible advantages of the system’s superior temporal resolution in the evaluation of left ventricular parameters as compared to results of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed. Coronary CT angiography was performed using a DSCT (Somatom Defintion, Siemens Medical Solutions, Forchheim, Germany) in 21 patients (mean age 62±8; 15 male, 6 female). Image quality of the coronary arteries, the heart valves, and the left ventricular myocardium was assessed using a three-point grading scale. Ten of these patients also underwent cardiac MRI for the assessment of left ventricular function, using a SSFP (steady-state free precession) sequence. Left ventricular ejection fractions (LV-EF), the end-systolic volumes (ESV), and the end-diastolic volumes (EDV) were measured employing MRI and DSCT datasets. The image quality ratings for the coronary arteries at the optimal reconstruction interval were diagnostic even in patients with high heart rates (1.42±0.49). Analysis of global LV function using DSCT quantified from CTA datasets showed a good correlation with results of cardiac MRI [EF: r=0.75 (p=0.01); ESV: r=0.72 (p=0.19); EDV: r=0.71 (p=0.02)]. The dual-source CT system offers robust image quality of the coronary arteries, independent of the heart rate, and provides combined diagnostic imaging of coronary arteries, the heart valves, the myocardium, and the global left ventricular function.