Sex differences in salicylic acid metabolism in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

The metabolism of salicylic acid was studied in male and female streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Results obtained showed that in both sexes there was a significant increase in urinary excretion of salicyluric acid in diabetic rats when compared to controls (P less than or equal to 0.001). Within the diabetic groups, there was a significant increase in the urinary excretion of salicyluric acid in the female in comparison to the male rats (P less than or equal to 0.01). A statistically significant increase was observed in urinary excretion of salicyl-glucuronic acid in diabetic female compared to control female rats (P less than or equal to 0.01) while comparison of diabetic male to control male showed a significant decrease in urinary excretion of salicyl-glucuronic acid (P less than or equal to 0.01). Comparison of the diabetic female and male groups showed a high statistically significant difference in urinary excretion of salicyl-glucuronic acid. The diabetic ration, ie diabetic/control was significantly higher in female than in male rats with respect to salicyl-glucuronic acid (P less than or equal to 0.001) and total urinary excretion (P less than or equal to 0.01). The diabetic ratio may likely reflect the true significance of the roles played by the two metabolic pathways. The results suggest sex differences in the metabolism of salicylic acid; this may also be the case in other disease states.     

Cyclic endometrial changes: US assessment with histologic correlation

The ultrasonographic (US) appearance of the endometrium was evaluated in 80 patients, and the US diagnosis of endometrial stage was compared with that from same-day endometrial biopsy specimens. The US signs of proliferative endometrium included triple-line sign, hypoechoic function layer, and minimal or absent posterior acoustic enhancement. The signs of secretory endometrium included absent triple-line sign, hyperechoic functional layer, and strong posterior acoustic enhancement. When all of these US signs were clearly depicted in combination, the accuracy of diagnosis was 93% (30 patients). The accuracy of diagnosis for all patients in the study was 76% (73 patients). The relative distributions of each US sign in proliferative and secretory endometrium were compared. Despite complicating extrinsic factors such as uterine leiomyomas and intrinsic factors such as the transition period between endometrial phases, US staging of the endometrium is a useful diagnostic technique that allows serial examinations of the endometrium.     

Edward J Curran and pupillary obstruction

Purpose : To present the importance of the concepts of Edward J Curran in relation to primary angle-closure glaucoma, and include a biographical sketch.
Method : An historical method is adopted.
Results : Curran's propositions of pupillary obstruction and its relief by peripheral iridotomy were conceded only after 30 years, and had to await laser surgery for fulfilment.
Conclusions : Edward J Curran's name should be enshrined in the history of ophthalmology.     

MISDIAGNOSES IN A CHINESE NARCOLEPTIC PATIENT WITH DELAYED ONSET OF CATAPLEXY

Narcolepsy is a chronic condition that usually afflicts the patient for decades. It is more common than is generally appreciated. However, it is likely to be misdiagnosed because doctors are unfamiliar with some of the symptoms. Its significant socioeconomic impact on the patient's quality of life warrants prompt medical attention.     

HPLC柱切换法测定抗癌药米托蒽醌血浆浓度

新抗癌药米托蒽醌治疗剂量低,与血浆蛋白结合率较高,用一般样品预处理技术,操作麻烦费时。本文采用HPLC柱切换技术,以甲醇沉淀血浆蛋白,经超声振荡10 min,以YWG-CN为预处理柱(5cm×4.6 mm ID),水为预处理流动相,在线富集样品;以Shimpack CLC-ODS为分析柱(15cm×6 mm ID),甲醇—乙酸铵缓冲液(0.2 mol/L,pH 1.9)(48:52)为流动相,658 nm检测,内标法定量。净化富集样品操作简便,回收率好(85.5%);米托蒽醌的检测限为0.5 ng。血浆中最低检出浓度为6 ng/ml。日内变异系数为2.8～11%,日间变异系数为4.0～13.8%。在浓度为10～1000 ng/ml血浆范围内,呈线性关系。     

AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION IN CHILDREN

Seventeen children presenting with airway obstruction have been studied to highlight the similar clinical features of different etiological conditions, their diagnostic limitations, and the importance of early bronchoscopy. There were 8 patients with foreign body in lower airway, out of which 6 were vegetable foreign bodies. Few rarer conditions like membranous laryngotracheobronchitis, subglottic hemangioma and acyanotic congenital heart disease producing airway obstruction have been highlighted. There were 2 deaths in the study unrelated to endoscopic procedure.KEY WORDS: Airway obstruction, Bronchoscopy     

Brachial plexus: correlation of MR imaging with CT and pathologic findings

Thirty-two patients with symptoms referable to the brachial plexus were evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Sixteen patients had undergone concurrent computed tomography (CT). MR imaging demonstrated normal findings in 16, 12 neoplasms, three cases of trauma, and one case of possible neural edema. Of the 16 patients with normal findings on MR images, eight had CT scans that were also normal. In one patient, MR images showed that the "mass" seen on CT was actually a tortuous blood vessel. In six of the 12 cases of neoplasm in which CT scans were available, MR imaging revealed more extensive disease. In the other six cases of tumor, MR imaging provided sufficient clinical information to obviate the need for CT or any other imaging modality. MR imaging provided definitive diagnoses in the three cases of trauma without further imaging. In one patient with paresthesia, MR imaging showed high signal intensity of the nerves on T2-weighted images, which was compatible with neural edema. A concurrent CT scan was normal.     

A review of stab wound injuries at a tertiary trauma centre in Singapore: are self-inflicted ones less severe?

INTRODUCTION

In Singapore, as strict laws are a strong deterrent against armed violence, little is known about the epidemiology of penetrating stab wound injuries. Our study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of stab wound injuries at a major trauma centre in Singapore and determine if there was a difference in severity between self-inflicted stab wound (SI) injuries and those inflicted by others (IO).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all penetrating injuries at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and identified and categorised all stab wound injuries as SI or IO. Basic demographic information, injury severity characteristics and outcome data were compared between these two groups. A review of all mortalities was performed, including recording the causes of death.

RESULTS

Between 2005 and 2010, there were a total of 149 stab wound injuries, of which 24 (16.1%) were SI and 125 (83.9%) were IO injuries. Patients tended to be young (mean age 34.1 ± 14.2 years). The mean Injury Severity Score was significantly different between the SI and IO groups (8.8 ± 6.5 vs. 12.3 ± 8.1; p = 0.03). In both groups, the majority underwent an operative procedure (83.3% vs. 85.6%) and had an average hospital stay of four days.

CONCLUSION

The study confirms our hypothesis that SI injuries tend to be less severe than IO injuries and are more likely to occur at home rather than at a public area. This finding may be useful in the triage of patients with stab wound injuries.     

Alloimmunization to D antigen and HLA in D-negative immunosuppressed oncology patients

D-negative patients may be divided into responders and nonresponders when immunized with D-positive red cells (RBC). Forty-nine D-negative oncology patients who received D-positive RBCs via platelet and white cell transfusions were studied to determine if nonresponders to D were likely to form lymphocytotoxic antibody (LCA). Nine patients developed anti-D in 16 to 390 days (mean = 112) after 2.6 to 481 ml (mean = 106) of D-positive RBCs. Forty patients had no evidence of anti-D after 0.8 to 535 ml (mean = 98) of D-positive RBCs and were followed for 14 to 1275 days (mean = 192). The anti-D group had no prior D-positive RBC transfusions, and two of five women making anti-D had previous pregnancies but no record of anti-D. LCA was found in four of nine (44%) patients with anti-D and in 12 of 40 (30%) patients without anti-D (p less than 0.50). Since both D and antigens HLA are considered highly immunogenic, it is of interest that the ability to form anti-D or LCA does not correlate. In fact, more patients (16/49; 32%) made LCA than anti-D (9/49; 18%). Of the 21 alloimmunized patients, 4 made both antibodies, while 17 had selective alloimmunization. It would thus appear that alloimmunization to D and HLA are not strongly linked and may indeed be unrelated.