Efficacy of Zoladex LA (goserelin) in the treatment of girls with central precocious or early puberty

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a longer acting preparation of the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue goserelin (Zoladex LA, 10.8 mg) in 12 girls with central precocious or early puberty. METHODS: Two girls started treatment de novo; the remainder had been on suppressive treatment for a median duration of 1.5 (range, 0.2-5.6) years. Assessment comprising auxology, pubertal staging, and pelvic ultrasound examination was carried out at weeks 0, 4, 8, 10, and 12 (first cycle) and weeks 8, 10, and 12 (second cycle) to evaluate the required injection frequency. Thereafter, assessment was performed on the day of injection. Zoladex LA was given every 12 weeks unless pubertal progression occurred. RESULTS: Satisfactory control was achieved in eight patients using this regimen, and three patients required more frequent injections. One girl was removed from the study because of clinical progression and extreme mood swings. No serious adverse effects occurred. Mean height velocity during the study period was 4.5 cm/year (range, 3.1-6.6) compared with 6.5 cm/year (range, 3.8-9.6) before treatment in nine patients for whom data were available. CONCLUSIONS: Zoladex LA was effective in controlling precocious puberty in girls when given at intervals of 9-12 weeks and it is recommended that an initial assessment is made eight weeks after beginning treatment.     

Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in spontaneously occurring osteosarcomas of the dog

Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous human cancers, including osteosarcomas. Appendicular osteosarcomas of the dog appear to be a good model for their human equivalent with regard to biologic behavior, epidemiology and histopathology. We individually screened exons 5-8 of the p53 gene for mutations in 15 canine appendicular osteosarcomas using 'Cold' SSCP to compare the role of this gene in human and canine osteosarcoma tumorigenesis. Seven of the tumors (47%) exhibited point mutations, with one tumor possessing two mutations within different exons. Of these, seven were missense mutations and the eighth was a 'silent' mutation potentially affecting the exon 6-7 splicing region. Five of the missense mutations were located in highly conserved regions IV and V, while another corresponded with the highly conserved codon 220 mutational hotspot located outside the conserved domains. The locations and types of mutations were nearly identical to those reported in human cancer. These findings provide strong evidence of the involvement of p53 mutations in the development of canine appendicular osteosarcomas. Canine osteosarcomas appear to be a promising model for their human equivalent on a clinical, pathologic, and molecular level.      

SOMATIC NEUROPATHY IN DIABETES MELLITUS

One hundred patients of Diabetes Mellitus (70 with and 30 without clinical somatic neuropathy) were studied to correlate clinical severity with the magnitude of nerve conduction abnormalities. Age range was 10-79 years (mean 49) with equal number of males and females. Incidence of neuropathy was more in patients over 40 years of age (60 out of 70 patients) with duration of disease over two years (78.33%). The grades of severity were mild in 22 (31.33%), moderate in 25 (35.71%) and severe in 23 (32.86%) patients. Nerve conduction studies were carried out in 48 (27 with and 21 without clinical neuropathy) patients, using the apparatus Dantec (Cantata TM). The nerves (median, peroneal and sural) were stimulated at two points and the recording of latency; amplitude (micro V) and motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities (m/s) were done under identical environmental conditions. Sensory nerve conduction velocity was more affected than motor velocity. In the 21 patients without clinical neuropathy, 14 showed abnormalities indicating early involvement of peripheral nerves. Reduction of motor nerve conduction velocity was more in patients with moderate and severe grades. The reduction was more in lower than in upper limbs. Nerve conduction abnormality helps in diagnosis in diabetic neuropathy even in preclinical state and correlates with severity, in clinical neuropathy.KEY WORDS: Diabetic neuropathy, Nerve conduction abnormality, Peripheral neuropathy     

Laparoscopic and ultrasound-guided transcervical evacuation of cornual ectopic pregnancy: an alternative approach.

Conventional treatment of cornual ectopic pregnancy carries significant morbidity and may compromise future fertility. We present a minimal access technique for the treatment of cornual ectopic pregnancies which we believe carries a reduced morbidity and may be less likely to compromise future reproductive function.     

Approaches to Preceramic Polymer Fiber Fabrication and On-Demand Applications

The demand for lightweight, high-modulus, and temperature-resistant materials for aerospace and other high-temperature applications has contributed to the development of ceramic fibers that exhibit most of the favorable properties of monolithic ceramics. This review demonstrates preceramic-based polymer fiber spinning and fiber classifications. We discuss different types of fiber spinning and the advantages of each. Tuning the preceramic polymer chemical properties, molar mass, functional chemistry influences, and incorporation with fillers are thoroughly investigated. Further, we present the applications of preceramic-based polymer fibers in different fields including aerospace, biomedical, and sensor applications. This concise review summarizes recent developments in preceramic fiber chemistry and essential applications.     

A Study of Erosion–Corrosion Behaviour of Friction Stir-Processed Chromium-Reinforced NiAl Bronze Composite

Corrosion is frequently viewed as a catastrophic and unavoidable disaster in marine applications. Every year, a huge cost is incurred on the maintenance and repair of corrosion-affected equipment and machinery. In the marine environment, as-cast nickel–aluminium bronze (NAB) is susceptible to selective phase corrosion. To solve this problem, chromium-reinforced nickel–aluminium bronze was fabricated using the friction stir process (FSP) with improved microstructures and surface properties. A slurry erosion–corrosion test on as-cast and FSPed composites demonstrated that the developed surfaced composite has lower erosion and corrosion rates than the as-cast NAB alloy. The erosion–corrosion rate increased with a decrease in the impact angle from 90° to 30° for both as-cast NAB and prepared composites, exhibiting a shear mode of erosion. The specimens at impact angle 30° experienced more pitting action and higher mass loss compared with those at impact angle 90°. Due to increases in the mechanical properties, the FS-processed composite showed higher erosion resistance than the as-cast NAB alloy. Furthermore, corrosion behaviour was also studied via the static immersion corrosion test and electrochemical measurements under 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. In a static immersion corrosion test, the FSPed composite outperformed the as-cast NAB composite by a wide margin. The FSPed composite also demonstrated a reduced electrochemical corrosion rate, as revealed by the polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) data. This reduced rate is attributed to the formation of a Cr oxide film over its surface in the corrosive environment.     

A two-year drinking-water study of dichloromethane in rodents. II. Mice

To investigate its carcinogenic potential, dichloromethane (DCM) was administered at levels of 0, 0, 60, 125, 185 and 250 mg/kg body weight/day to a total of 1000 B6C3F1 mice in deionized drinking-water for 104 wk. The high-dose male and female mice showed a transitory increase in mean leucocyte counts. Treatment-related toxic changes were noted in both male and female livers at the highest dose. There was a slight elevation of proliferative hepatocellular lesions in the treated males but no dose-related trend was apparent and the effect was absent in the females. Neoplastic lesions observed in the study were homogeneous among all groups and were within the range of incidence in historical controls. The results of this study demonstrated a toxicological no-observable-effect level (NOEL) for DCM of 185 mg/kg body weight/day in both sexes.     

恩替卡韦与拉米夫定治疗HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎的对照研究

Ⅱ期临床试验已经证实恩替卡韦是一种治疗HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎有效和可选择的抗病毒药物。采用双盲法将648例未曾接受过核苷类药物治疗的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎随机分配进入恩替卡韦（0．5mg／d）治疗组或拉米夫定（100mg／d）治疗组，疗程至少52wk。     

Escherichia coli tetracycline efflux determinants in relation to tetracycline residues in chicken

ObjectiveTo screen for Escherichia coli (E. coli) resistant to tetracycline, followed by identification of tet efflux genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, detection of tetracycline residues in chicken livers and kidneys were conducted using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS).MethodsStrains of E. coli were isolated from samples of chicken colon and screened for tetracycline resistance. Tetracycline genes conferring resistance (Tc^r) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline (97.9%).ResultsPCR analysis indicated that Tc^r E. coli R-plasmids contained tet(A), tet(B) and a combination of both efflux genes. None of the isolates contained other efflux tet genes tet (C, D, E and Y). High performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS), a sensitive technique, was used to detect residues of chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), doxycycline (DC) in chicken livers and kidneys. The samples containing tetracycline residues were at 0.13-0.65 pg/μL levels.ConclusionsTetracycline and other antibiotics are commonly used in the poultry and meat production industry for prevention of microbial infections. Multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria in Oman have increased to alarming levels, threatening public health, domestic and may have adverse effect on environment.