The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in children with tracheomalacia and laryngomalacia

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective study to determine the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and large airways malacia in infancy. METHODS: One hundred sixteen children referred for chronic respiratory problems who were between the ages of 3 and 28 months were investigated. All of them underwent flexible bronchoscopy and chest radiography. Eighteen children had laryngomalacia, 13 had tracheomalacia, and 23 had combined laryngotracheomalacia. During bronchoscopy, BAL was performed. An analysis of macrophages in the BAL fluid for lipid content was performed. Fifty-four children with laryngomalacia and tracheomalacia constituted the study group, and 62 children were in the control group. Reflux studies were obtained for 40 children from the study group and 41 from the control group. RESULTS: In the study group, 28 children (70%) had GER documented by reflux studies compared with 16 children (39%) in the control group (p < 0.01). In the control group, GER was found mainly among those with recurrent bilateral pneumonia. The lipid-laden macrophage score was correlated with the documented GER. CONCLUSION: GER is prevalent among infants with large airways malacia, and treatment of this group with antireflux therapy should be considered.     

Kinetic model for the dehydration of xylose to furfural from a boronate diester precursor

A comprehensive kinetic model describes the dehydration of xylose starting from the boronate diester-protected xylose (PBA₂X). The model incorporates (de)esterification of PBA₂X, partitioning, and xylose dehydration, and aims to evaluate the effects of the solvent system on these steps. The model explores the effect of the water contents in monophasic solvent systems, and that of ionic strength and mixing in biphasic aqueous–organic systems. At low water content, hydrolysis of PBA₂X is the rate-limiting step, while xylose dehydration is fast. Conversely, in a monophasic three-solvent system, where the water content is higher, complete hydrolysis of the diester is achieved quickly. Under biphasic conditions, xylose dehydration is fast at high ionic strengths, but the slower partitioning/hydrolysis of PBA₂X results in an overall slower furfural production. Furthermore, the observed different but high, constant xylose-to-furfural selectivities observed experimentally are tentatively ascribed to a higher order of parallel side-product formation.

The dehydration kinetics of xylose from its boronate diester is modeled. Insight is provided into the effects of solvent polarity, ionic strength, phase partitioning and mixing, in both mono and biphasic systems.     

Pediculosis Capitis: Why Prefer a Solution to Shampoo or Spray?

Two hundred and sixty-eight children with pediculosis capitis took part in a comparative study to test the efficacy of five different pediculocides commonly used in Israel. The preparations used were pyrethrin shampoo, pyrethroid spray, malathion solution, carbaryl shampoo and carbaryl lotion. Carbaryl lotion and malathion solution were much more efficient when compared to the shampoo and spray preparations.     

Epithelial advanced ovarian carcinoma in the central region of Tunisia: therapeutic results and prognostic factors on 104 patients

Between 1994 and 2004, 104 patients with epithelial advanced ovarian cancer were treated in the central region of Tunisia (81 stage III and 23 stage IV). Average age of patients was 54 years. Primary surgery was optimal (residue < 2 cm) in 40 cases (38,5 % of patients). Fifty nine patients were treated with neo adjuvant chemotherapy based on platinum, associated to paclitaxel in 19 % of cases. Interval debulking surgery interested 30 patients and was optimal in 66,7 % of cases. Global survive was 57 % at 2 years and 27 % at 5 years. Survival rate for patients treated with optimal debulking surgery was similar to that of those treated with initial optimal surgery. Prognostic factors for a better survive were : age < 40 years (p < 0,05), stage III (p < 0,01), a normal level of CA125 after surgery (p < 0,01), primary optimal initial surgery (p < 0,02) and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0,01). Prognosis of ovarian carcinoma is worse in Tunisia as like as in the world. In case of extensive tumor, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy before interval debulking surgery permits to improve survive and quality of life in some patients.     

Accumulation of Nutrients and Metal Ions by Two Mung Bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] Cultivars Treated with Copper and Lead

No abstract available.     

Randomized controlled trial of vaginal misoprostol versus vaginal misoprostol and isosorbide dinitrate for termination of pregnancy at 13–29 weeks

When compared to the use of 12 hourly 200 μg vaginal misoprostol on its own, the addition of a single dose of 5 mg did not significantly increase the abortion or delivery rate in pregnancy termination at 13–29 weeks gestation. All patients were given intravenous syntocinon at 30 mU/min from the first dose of misoprostol onwards.     

Ovarian hyperstimulation induced by a GnRH agonist. About one case

We report a case of ovarian hyperstimulation induced by a GnRH agonist (Decapeptyl in a patient aged of 23 years and having 3 years of primary infertility of male origin. Twelve days after agonist administration, several ovarian follicles, great-sized, and with a rate of elevated serum oestradiol have been noted. After triggering of the ovulation by 5000 IU of HCG, oocyte retrieval permitted the collection of 4 oocytes 3 of which were mature. Only one embryo with 4 cells has been transferred 48 hours after intracytoplasmic sperm injection fertilization (ICSI), but there was no pregnancy. Ovarian hyperstimulation induced by GnRH agonist is a rare event and only a few cases have been reported. The development of multiple follicles after the administration of an agonist is a paradoxal answer of the ovary to the pituitary desensitization without a clarified physiopathology. The hypothesis of a direct action of the agonist on the ovary is likeliest. Triggering of ovulation by human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) has been achieved by certain authors. Fertilization of oocytes and transfers of embryos have succeeded in certain cases, but only one pregnancy has been reported that led to a living birth.