GRAVES' DISEASE WITH ORGANIC MOOD SYNDROME (A Case Report)

A case of Graves'' disease with organic mood syndrome in a 3G year old man is reported. Patient had thyrotoxicosis and developed features of mania while in the hospital which necessitated antipsychotic drug therapy.KEY WORDS: Graves'' disease, ManiaFrank psychotic decompensation occurring in the background of Graves'' disease is an explosive clinical situation as manifestations range from severe manic excitement to total apathy. Although rare, the gravity of such situation warrants energetic intervention on both fronts. One such instance of organic mood syndrome with Graves'' disease is being presented, highlighting the problems encountered in the management.     

Partial characterisation of murine huntingtin and apparent variations in the subcellular localisation of huntingtin in human, mouse and rat brain

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in a gene coding for a protein of unknown function. We have raised a polyclonal antibody against a 12 amino acid peptide (residues 2110-2121 of human huntingtin) which specifically recognises huntingtin on Western blots of human, rat and mouse brain. We have characterised huntingtin expression in the mouse. The protein was detected on Western blots of all mouse tissues examined, with the highest expression seen in brain. Human, mouse and rat brain were fractionated by differential centrifugation and discontinuous Percoll gradients. The fractions were analysed by Western blotting for huntingtin and synaptophysin (a synaptic vesicle localised protein). In mouse brain, huntingtin was localised in the soluble S3 fraction; in rat brain it was localised in the soluble S3 fraction and also in the membrane P2 and P3 fractions; in both normal and HD- affected human brain, huntingtin was membrane bound with a distribution essentially the same as that of synaptophysin. These observed differences in the subcellular localisation of huntingtin between mouse and human brain are important in the context of mouse models for HD.      

Recent developments in national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health strategy

In this paper I will describe some of the sentinel events in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy and strategy during 2003 and the early part of 2004. This will involve discussion on the:* National Strategic Framework in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health* National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well Being 2004-2009* National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework* The roll-out of the Primary Health Care Access Program* The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey and the National Indigenous Health SurveyThese developments are consistent with a policy agenda that has evolved, in general terms, since the release of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy in 1989. However, I will also consider significant developments in the broader context for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, particularly the decision made in early 2004 by the Howard government to abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). While the key events and developments that are reported in this paper elaborate on an agenda that has been developing for more than a decade, the decision to abolish ATSIC is likely to have a revolutionary impact on the future development of Aboriginal health strategy.     

Selective disruption of lymphotoxin ligands reveals a novel set of mucosal lymph nodes and unique effects on lymph node cellular organization

Lymphotoxin (LT) provides a critical signal for the genesis of lymph nodes (LN) in mice. Here we show that mice treated in utero with LT beta-R-Ig, which binds to the membrane LT alpha 1 beta 2 heterotrimer, lacked most LN, yet retained a set of mucosal surface draining LN. Since mice genetically deficient in LT alpha lack all LN, including the mucosal set, we hypothesize that a novel LT alpha-dependent pathway controls their genesis. This novel set of mucosal LN cannot be discriminated on the basis of addressin expression. The discovery of LN in mice treated with LT beta-R-Ig fusion protein in utero allowed us to compare the roles of membrane LT alpha beta or soluble LT alpha/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the development of cellular organization in LN and spleen. Our results indicate that both membrane LT alpha beta and soluble LT alpha/TNF mediate T-B cell segregation and the organization of B cell follicles in spleen and LN. Interestingly, while antagonism of membrane LT alpha beta or soluble LT alpha/TNF prevented germinal center (GC) formation in spleen, antagonism of soluble LT alpha/TNF had no effect on LN formation. The data suggest that multiple LT/TNF ligands control B cell follicle organization in the spleen and LN of adult mice, and that the requirements for LT/TNF ligands in GC formation are distinct in the different lymphoid organs.      

Abnormal direct entry of the umbilical vein into the right atrium: antenatal detection,embryologic aspects

Summary Abnormal direct umbilical venous return into the right atrium was detected at obstetric ultrasonography in a 23 week fetus. This was an isolated anomaly; the growth of the fetus and size of the liver were normal, and the child was normal on examination at birth. Exclusion of the umbilico-placental circulation brought about closure of the umbilical vein. Growth and development of the child were normal 6 months after birth. Five other cases of abnormal umbilical venous entry into the right atrium have been reported in the literature, but associated with severe malformations, with situs ambiguous and heterotaxy. These cases have been grouped under the heading: persistence of the right umbilical vein. In view of recent findings relating to the organogenesis of the veins of the human liver, it seems preferable to label this anomaly: direct umbilical venous return into the right atrium.

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Retour veineux ombilical anormal direct dans l'atrium droit: découverte anténatale, interprétation embryologique

Résumé Un retour veineux ombilical anormal direct dans l'atrium droit a été reconnu à l'échographie obstétricale chez un ftus de 23 semaines. Cette anomalie était isolée, la croissance du ftus et la taille du foie étaient normales. A la naissance, l'examen de l'enfant était normal. L'exclusion de la circulation ombilico-placentaire a entraîné la fermeture de la veine ombilicale. La croissance et le développement de l'enfant sont normaux six mois après la naissance. Cinq autres cas de retour veineux ombilical anormal dans l'atrium droit ont déjà été rapportés dans la littérature mais associés à des malformations sévères, avec situs ambigu et hétérotaxie. Ces observations sont regroupées sous la dénomination: «persistance de la veine ombilicale droite». Compte tenu de données récentes concernant l'organogénèse des veines du foie humain, il semble préférable de dénommer cette anomalie: retour veineux ombilical direct dans l'atrium droit.

     

Identification of the vascular and avascular zones of the human meniscus using magnetic resonance imaging: Correlation with histology

Since the initial employment of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose meniscal tears, a characteristic low-signal intensity, triangular-shaped structure has been interpreted as representing the entire meniscus. The difficulty in diagnosing meniscocapsular separations with MRI has brought attention to our lack of understanding of the appearance on MRI of the outer third of the meniscus and the meniscocapsular junction. We correlated MRIs of the meniscus in cadaver knees with histological sections and found that the low-signal, wedge-shaped structure corresponds only to the avascular (white) zone of the meniscus, whereas the high-signal zone peripheral to it corresponds to the vascularized (red) zone. (Arthroscopy 1998 Nov-Dec;14(8):820-3.)     

Basophil histamine release, IgE, eosinophil counts, ECP, and EPX are related to the severity of symptoms in seasonal allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND: Serum specific IgE, basophil histamine release, and blood eosinophil parameters are associated with allergic rhinitis, but investigations of the relationship to the severity of allergic symptoms are few and conflicting. Our study aimed to investigate the seasonal changes in the following laboratory tests: specific IgE, basophil histamine release, eosinophil counts, and serum and plasma eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX), and to analyze, in detail, the relationship of each individual test to the severity of symptoms in rhinitis patients allergic to both birch and grass pollen. METHODS: The above tests were performed on blood samples obtained from 49 allergic rhinitis patients during the birch-pollen season, during the grass-pollen season, and after the seasons. Symptom-medication diaries were filled in during both pollen seasons. We used partial least square (PLS) analysis to establish an optimal statistical link between the symptom score and medication and the laboratory tests, in an investigator-independent way. RESULTS: Increases in specific IgE, basophil histamine release, eosinophil counts, serum ECP and EPX, and plasma EPX were observed from the birch-pollen season to the grass-pollen season, followed by a decrease from the grass-pollen season to after the pollen seasons, except for the specific IgE. No seasonal changes in plasma ECP and total IgE were seen. The PLS analysis found a relationship between symptom score and medication and the aggregate laboratory tests (F-test value 40.2, correlation 0.34 for the cumulative relation). However, the variation in laboratory tests could explain only half of the total variation in symptoms and less than a quarter of the total variation in medication. The symptom score and, to a minor degree, medication were especially correlated with the basophil histamine-release results, with a decreasing relevance of specific IgE, eosinophil counts, total IgE, serum and plasma EPX, and serum ECP. Plasma ECP was not related to the symptom score and medication. CONCLUSIONS: A significant relationship between the severity of allergic rhinitis and various allergic inflammatory markers was found but could account for only a minor part of the variation in the patients' evaluation of their disease.     

青海省东部农村人体猪带绦/囊虫病调查分析

目的 调查青海省东部农村人体猪带绦/囊虫病的流行情况。方法 使用问卷进行流行因素调查;粪抗原ELISA法用于绦虫病检测;生理盐水直接涂片法和醛醚法镜检绦虫卵用于绦虫病人的确诊;囊虫病ELISA法用于囊虫病检测。结果 调查4个自然村,共766人。镜检598人,确诊绦虫病病人2例,患病率为0.33%;绦虫病粪抗原ELISA检查512人份,阳性率为9.18%;囊虫病ELISA检查652人,阳性率为4.14%。结论 该地区绦/囊虫病流行仍然很严重。