The prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites in two Somalian communities

About 85% of the population of two Somali communities harboured soil-transmitted intestinal nematodes and/or protozoa. The commonest parasite (75% in the Lafoole institution and 59% in the Afgoye institution) was Trichuris trichiura. Mixed infections were common. The source of infection is contaminated fields around dwelling quarters, because of indiscriminate defaecation. One of the factors responsible for the higher incidence of hookworm in Lafoole (45%) compared with Afgoye (1.5%) may be the different soil character of the surrounding fields.     

Assessing effect of mixing insulins by glucose-clamp technique in subjects with diabetes mellitus

The glucose-clamp technique was used to assess the effect on insulin activity of mixing clinically relevant doses of short- and longer-acting insulins in insulin-treated diabetic subjects. Mixtures of porcine regular and lente insulins resulted in a reduction in activity of the mixture compared with separate injection that was more apparent with premixing for 5 min before injecting than with premixing for 2 min. These findings were not explained by differences in volume of the injected insulin preparations. Mixing of porcine regular and bovine ultralente insulins for 2 min before injecting resulted in a reduced activity compared with separate injection. No difference in activity was obvious for porcine regular and NPH insulins given separately or premixed for 5 min. A reduction of activity during the 1st h after injection was observed when separate injection of one brand of these insulins (Velosulin or Insulatard) was compared with the manufactured mixture (Mixtard). These results indicate that premixing regular and NPH insulins in a 1-to-2 ratio does not alter the biological activity compared with separate administration of the insulins. However, the mixing of regular and insulin-zinc suspensions results in a loss of insulin activity, the magnitude of which depends on the time between mixing and injecting the insulin. The clinical significance of the effect of mixing on the efficacy of subcutaneous insulin therapy should be considered in the context that this is only one of many factors that may affect the activity of subcutaneously injected insulin.     

Pregnancy following gamete intrafallopian transfer: A case report

Conclusion Although more data are needed and it is still too early for a definitive conclusion, GIFT can probably offer new perspectives not only in the treatment of unexplained infertility but also in cases of persistent infertility in patients with LUF (luteinzed unruptured follicle) or a mild degree of endometriosis or when no conception occurs after surgical correction of endometriosis.Only further prospective studies will help us to determine the indications for GIFT.     

Relationship between transmitter release and presynaptic calcium influx when calcium enters through discrete channels.

We have used a three-dimensional diffusion model of calcium entering the presynaptic nerve terminal through discrete channels to simulate experiments relating transmitter release to presynaptic calcium current. The relationship will be less than linear, or will curve downward, if calcium channels are well separated. It will resemble a power-law function with exponent less than the cooperativity of calcium action if channels are clustered closer together. Large presynaptic depolarizations elicit more release than small depolarizations admitting the same calcium influx. This occurs because large pulses open more channels near each other, with the result that the calcium concentration near release sites is greater, due to overlap of calcium diffusing from adjacent channels.     

Inhibin and renin in follicular fluids of patients with one or two ovaries stimulated with a GnRH agonist and gonadotrophins

Follicular fluids from eight patients with one ovary and from ten patients with two ovaries were investigated for bioactive inhibin, total renin, oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations. Four follicular fluids were pooled per patient before assessment. All women had been stimulated similarly using a protocol including a GnRH agonist, HMG and HCG. Renin levels were significantly lower and P4 significantly higher in pools of follicular fluid from patients with one ovary, whereas inhibin and E2 concentrations were similar in both patient groups. A significant negative correlation was found in the pools of follicular fluid between inhibin and E2 in both groups. These results suggest a role for inhibin and renin in the paracrine and autocrine control of stimulated follicular development.     

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma in childhood. A clinicopathological study of six cases

A review of the pathological material from 42 children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma seen over a 44 month period revealed 10 large cell tumours. Of these, six were classified as peripheral T-cell lymphoma, an entity rarely reported in childhood. Three patients were boys and three girls (median age 9.5 years), and extranodal presentation was a feature of two patients. Five had high-grade tumours; of these, three were classified as large cell anaplastic, Ki-1 positive and two as pleomorphic large cell. The remaining patient had a low-grade tumour of angioimmunoblastic type. T-cell subsets were examined in three cases and showed the following phenotypes: CD4-, CD8-; CD4+, CD8-; CD4-, CD8+. Three of the patients with high-grade tumours died, with a mean survival of 22 weeks. The remaining patients are alive and clinically disease-free for between 10 and 24 months after treatment.