Prevalence of respiratory allergy in a platinum refinery

Summary In a cross-sectional study, 65 workers in the chemical industry with exposure to platinum salts were investigated with regard to the prevalence to allergic respiratory tract diseases. A respriatory questionnaire, a skin-prick test with K₂PtCl₆ and environmental allergens, determination of total IgE, platinum-specific IgE and histamine release in basophilic granulocytes and lung function tests were applied before and after a Monday shift and after a Friday shift. Work-related symptoms of respiratory allergy were present in 23% of all workers, but were significantly more frequent in the most exposed group in the platinum refinery (52.4%). Of all workers, 18.7% had a positive skin-prick test with platinum salt. As compared to the other workers, the workers with work-related symptoms of respiratory allergy had significantly more positive skin-prick tests (64.3%) and a higher total IgE and platinum-specific IgE; they did not, however, show higher histamine release. In the course of the week, a significant fall in lung function, namely in FEV₁ and FEF25, was recorded in the group of workers with work-related symptoms.     

Combined hypophyseal function test in children with homozygous beta-thalassemia]

Nowadays, endocrine problems like retarded sexual maturation and growth deficiency, lead to substantial suffering in patients with beta-thalassemia major. The aim of the present study is the differentiation between a possible insufficiency of the pituitary gland and dependent target organs, respectively. 12 patients (age 1.9-18.10 years) were examined by means of a combined pituitary function test. The corticotropic axis turned out to be normal as shown by a regular stimulation of cortisol in all patients tested. The thyrotropic function was unaffected in all children: elevated levels of TSH pointed to primary hypothyroidism. Pubertal values of LH and FSH were found in only 3 out of 7 patients at pubertal age. In 10 out of 12 children, stimulation led to a rise in STH levels above 10 ng/ml. On the whole, there was no evidence for pituitary insufficiency in beta-thalassemia major.     

An essential gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae coding for an actin-related protein.

Actin filaments provide the internal scaffold of eukaryotic cells; they are involved in maintenance of cell shape, cytokinesis, organelle movement, and cell motility. The major component of these filaments, actin, is one of the most well-conserved eukaryotic proteins. Recently genes more distantly related to the conventional actins were cloned from several organisms. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one conventional actin gene, ACT1 (coding for the filament actin), and a so-called actin-like gene, ACT2 (of unknown function), have so far been identified. We report here the discovery of a third member of the actin gene family from this organism, which we named ACT3. The latter gene is essential for viability and codes for a putative polypeptide, Act3, of 489 amino acids (M(r) = 54,831). The deduced amino acid sequence of Act3 is less related to conventional actins than is the deduced amino acid sequence of Act2, mainly because of three unique hydrophilic [corrected] segments. These segments are found inserted into a part of the sequence corresponding to a surface loop of the known three-dimensional structure of the actin molecule. According to sequence comparison, the basal core structure of conventional actin may well be conserved in Act3. Our findings demonstrate that, unexpectedly, there exist three members of the diverse actin protein family in budding yeast that obviously provide different essential functions for survival.     

Relationship between intracranial pressure and intracranial volume in craniosynostosis.

Premature fusion of cranial sutures in craniosynostosis has been thought to lead to craniostenosis, which in turn may lead to increased intracranial pressures. In 41 consecutive patients with craniosynostosis, intracranial pressure and intracranial volume were measured. Of the 41 patients, 38 (92.6%) had raised intracranial pressure but only 4 (9.7%) had a decreased skull volume. In the present study, there is no correlation between intracranial volume and intracranial pressure. This study confirms that the measurement of intracranial volume, a non invasive procedure, cannot be used to assess intracranial pressure and to avoid an invasive procedure.     

Vein of Galen and sinus thrombosis with bilateral thalamic infarcts in sickle cell anaemia: CT follow-up and angiographic demonstration

A 2-year-old boy with known sickle cell disease presented in acute coma. CT revealed bilateral thalamic infarcts and incomplete sinus thrombosis. Angiography confirmed thrombosis of the straight sinus and vein of Galen.     

Symptomatic cystic dilatation of V ventricle: Case report and review of the literature

We report a case of V ventricular cystic dilatation, presenting with specific neurological symptoms including low back pain, bilateral sciatica, weakness of dorsiflexion, and urinary retention. MRI showed a large cystic dilatation of the ventriculus terminalis. Surgical fenestration of the cyst allowed complete relief from symptoms and remission of the neurological deficit.     

Thrombocyte function in children with Type I diabetes mellitus. Cross-sectional study]

Platelet count, spontaneous platelet aggregation, ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation platelet adhesion, platelet volume, shape change, beta-thromboglobulin and von-Willebrand-factor have been investigated in 51 insulin dependent diabetic children without clinical signs of diabetic angiopathy. Compared to an age matched healthy control group diabetic children showed a significant enhancement of spontaneous platelet aggregation, elevated plasma levels of von-Willebrand-factor, increased platelet shape change and adhesion. No alterations could be found in ADP--and collagen--induced platelet aggregation and in beta-thromboglobulin levels. Significant correlations could be found between the total glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations (Hb A1) and spontaneous platelet aggregation, as well as between duration of diabetes Hb A1, and platelet volume. In this study we could demonstrate changes in platelet function in diabetic children without clinical signs of diabetic angiopathy. However these changes could be due to metabolic adjustment and may precede diabetic vasculopathy.     

Stimulation of skin sympathetic nerve discharge by central command. Differential control of sympathetic outflow to skin and skeletal muscle during static exercise

Microneurographic measurements of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) have suggested that, during static exercise, central command is much less important than skeletal muscle afferents in causing sympathetic neural activation. The possibility remains, however, that the sympathetic discharge produced by central command is targeted mainly to tissues other than skeletal muscle. To examine this possibility, we recorded SNA with microelectrodes placed selectively in skin, as well as in muscle, nerve fascicles of the peroneal nerve during static handgrip maneuvers designed to separate the effects of central command from those of muscle afferents. To study the relative effects of cutaneous sympathetic activation on sudomotor versus vasomotor function, we simultaneously estimated changes in skin blood flow (laser Doppler velocimetry) and in sudomotor (electrodermal) activation in the region of skin innervated by the impaled nerve fascicle. Two minutes of static handgrip at 10%, 20%, and 30% of maximal voluntary contraction caused large and intensity-dependent increases in skin SNA. These increases in SNA immediately preceded the onset of muscle tension, accelerated progressively during sustained handgrip, and resolved promptly with the cessation of motor effort. The handgrip-induced increases in skin SNA were not maintained when handgrip was followed by arrest of the forearm circulation, a maneuver that maintains the stimulation of chemically sensitive muscle afferents while eliminating the influences of central command and mechanically sensitive muscle afferents. During normothermia, static handgrip at 30% maximal voluntary contraction caused sustained increases in skin SNA (+400 +/- 83%, mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05) and in electrodermal activity (+276 +/- 56%, p less than 0.05) but only transient increases in estimated skin vascular resistance (+11 +/- 2%, p less than 0.05). When skin temperature was increased or decreased to a new stable baseline level, subsequent increases in skin SNA during handgrip were accompanied by sustained but directionally opposite changes in estimated skin vascular resistance, with exercise-induced vasodilation during hyperthermia but exercise-induced vasoconstriction during hypothermia. From these observations, we conclude the following: 1) static exercise markedly increases sympathetic outflow to skin as well as to skeletal muscle; 2) the increases in skin SNA, unlike muscle SNA, appear to be caused mainly by central command rather than by muscle afferent reflexes; and 3) this cutaneous sympathetic activation appears to be targeted both to sweat glands and to vascular smooth muscle, with the relative targeting being temperature dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Two superficially spreading malignant melanomas on nevus spilus]

A case of a 49-year-old patient with two superficial spreading melanomas arising from a naevus spilus is presented. Although opinions differ on the potential for malignant transformation in naevi spili, they should be carefully watched, and if changes are found these lesions should be subjected to histopathologic examination.     

Expression of S14-mRNA and its translational product in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells

During adipogenic conversion of 3T3-L1 cells S14-mRNA increased from undetectable levels in preadipocytes to high levels in differentiated adipocytes (adipocyte-like cells). In vitro translation of hybrid-selected S14-mRNA revealed an identical protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in rat liver with regard to migration properties in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. No translation product was found in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In conclusion, protein-S14 is very similar or even identical in rat lipogenic tissues and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, this cell line can be employed to elucidate further physiological aspects of protein-S14.