Male Partner Involvement and Development of HIV-exposed Infants in Rural South Africa

AIDS and Behavior - Male partner involvement (MPI) during the prenatal and postnatal periods has been proven to have a beneficial effect on infant development. Infants born to HIV seropositive...     

Activation of the adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A pathway facilitates neural release of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in canine mesenteric artery

Using high performance liquid chromatography techniques with fluorescence detection we demonstrate that overflow of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide evoked by electrical field stimulation (16 Hz, 0.3 ms) in the canine isolated mesenteric artery is increased by the activators of adenylyl cyclase (AC) forskolin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), by dibutyryl cAMP, and by the inhibitors of phosphodiesterases III and IV milrinone and rolipram. The enhancing effect of forskolin is abolished by the AC inhibitor MDL 12,330A and by protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors peptide 14-22 amide and 4-cyano-3-methylisoquinoline. Therefore, activation of the AC/cAMP/PKA pathway enhances the release of beta-NAD+ from perivascular nerve terminals.     

War consequences as the potential hazard for the Croatian karst ecosystem

In the recent war in Croatia, the karstic area of the country was endangered by hazardous waste, which calls for particular attention because of its exceptional ecological sensitivity. There are strong indications that various organic pollutants have entered the environment. It is also assumed that oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was spilled in a number of locations. After the penetration in the environment, these substances are quickly absorbed in soil, sediment or bioaccumulated in the organisms of the aquatic ecosystem. In view of the locations of damaged electric transformer stations in Zadar, Bilice and Dubrovnik, there was some speculation on potential hazard posed by organohalogenated toxicants to Lake Vransko and the coastal area around Zadar, Sibenik and Dubrovnik. Samples of sediments and aquatic organisms were collected and analysed, and the results showed no significant or high levels of contaminants in the areas of Lake Vransko, Sibenik, and Dubrovnik (Petka location), while in the Mikulandra Bay near Sibenik, in Rijeka Dubrovacka, Brodanovo location and Marina near the Vruljica Creek in Zadar, significantly higher levels of PCBs were observed and these toxicants were additionally monitored within the APOPSBAL project from 2002 to 2005. The results of these investigations are presented in this paper.     

Hemorrhagic intestinal lymphangioma --report of a case

This paper presents the case of a male patient, 57 years old, admitted to the hospital for upper digestive bleeding revealed by melena stools. The upper digestive endoscopy has not discovered the source of bleeding. Conventional medical therapy, with hemostatics, proton pump blockers and transfusion, failed to stop the bleeding, requiring emergency surgery for stopping the bleeding. The intraoperative exploration discovered three submucosal formations with dimensions between 0,5 and 0,75 cm, who ulcerated the jejunal mucosa, situated at 20-25cm from the duodeno-jejunal angle. The pathologic report described haemorrhagic intestinal lymphangioma. The excision of the sub-mucosal haemangioma stopped the bleeding.     

Dermoid cyst of the parotid gland

Dermoid cyst of the parotid gland is a rare clinical entity. Definitive clinical diagnosis is often difficult to determine preoperatively because of the lack of pathognomonic features. The most frequent location of a parotid dermoid cyst is a triangular area lying above the pinna. Imaging studies do not definitely diagnose a parotid dermoid cyst. Although parotid dermoid cyst is (generally) well-encapsulated, complete removal of the cyst wall is not sufficient to cure it, so it is mandatory to perform careful excision of the cyst by parotidectomy, in terms of preserving facial nerve integrity. Histopathology of the parotid gland tumor removed by parotidectomy makes a diagnosis of certainty, by revealing a cyst wall with keratinization of the squamous epithelium and the presence of skin annexes (hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands). We present a rare case of parotid dermoid cyst in a 21-year-old male patient with symptoms and imaging rather suggestive of arch I branchial cyst and a brief review of data in the medical literature of the last 20 years.     

Nutritional Intake and Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiencies Prior to Surgery in a Spanish Morbidly Obese Population

Background  

The prevalence of obesity in Spain is on the rise with the consequent increase in bariatric surgery. Studies in non-Mediterranean populations have shown that micronutrient deficits are present before surgery. However, there is no data on this topic in a Spanish population.     

Migratory monocytes and granulocytes are major lymphatic carriers of Salmonella from tissue to draining lymph node

Dendritic cells (DC) are recognized as sentinels, which capture antigens in tissue and migrate to the lymph node, where they initiate immune responses. However, when a vaccine strain of green fluorescent protein-expressing Salmonella abortusovis (SAO) was inoculated into sheep oral mucosa, it induced accumulation of myeloid non-DC in the subcapsular sinus and paracortex of the draining lymph node, and SAO was mainly found associated with these cells (granulocytes and macrophages) but rarely with DC. To analyze how bacteria reached lymph nodes, we used cervical pseudo-afferent lymph duct catheterization. We showed that Salmonella administered in the oral mucosa were traveling free in lymph or associated with cells, largely with lymph monocytes and granulocytes but less with DC. SAO also induced a strong influx of these phagocytic cells in afferent lymph. Migrating DC presented a semi-mature phenotype, and SAO administration did not alter their expression of major histocompatibility complex type 2 and coactivation molecules. Compared with blood counterparts, lymph monocytes expressed lower levels of CD40, and granulocytes expressed higher levels of CD80. The data suggest that immunity to bacteria may result from the complex interplay between a mixture of phagocytic cell types, which transport antigens and are massively recruited via lymph to decisional lymph nodes.     

Do you know this syndrome? Ectrodactyly - ectodermal dysplasia - cleft lip/palate(EEC) syndrome

Ectrodactyly - ectodermal dysplasia - cleft lip/palate syndrome (EEC) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder, with variable expression and penetrance. This congenital disorder is associated either with a mutation in chromosome 7 or with a translocation between chromosomes 7 and 9, reflected primarily in the abnormalities listed in its name. This case report describes a 35-year-old male with syndromic stigmata since birth and no cleft lip/palate. Four relatives are also affected by the condition.