Pulmonary cystic hydatid disease in Ireland

Background Hydatid disease is rare in Ireland and its incidence and prevalence are unknown. Most cases are diagnosed by a combination of clinical findings, morphological features on imaging and by serological testing. Aims We describe an Irish case of pulmonary hydatid disease detected at bronchoscopy by bronchoalveolar lavage, and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.     

Preserved performance in a hippocampal-dependent spatial task despite complete place cell remapping

The spatially localized firing of hippocampal place cells is thought to underlie the navigational function of the hippocampus. Performance on a spatial task learned using a particular place cell map should therefore deteriorate if the map is disrupted. To test this prediction, we trained rats on a hippocampal-dependent spatial task in a black box and tested them in a white box. Although the change from black to white induced remapping of most place cells, navigational performance remained essentially intact. Furthermore, place cell activity was also unrelated to specific aspects of the task such as tone onset, response, or goal location. Together, these results imply that the spatial information needed to solve this navigation task is represented outside the hippocampus and suggest that the place cells encode some other aspect, such as the spatial context.     

Suspected poisoning in children. Study of the incidence of true poisoning and poisoning scare in a defined population in North East Bristol

The distinction between true and suspected poisoning in children has not been made clear in previous work on childhood poisoning. A study of suspected poisoning in children under 15 years of age in a defined population of North East Bristol from November 1970 to July 1973 carried out by the Health Education Council Medical Research Division included 53,000 child-years at risk. The number of suspected poisonings was 3-4/1000 population aged under 15 years per year, with a higher incidence in younger age groups. Detailed investigation of the circumstances of the accidents carried out by a multidisciplinary team showed that at least 65%, and possibly as many as 78% were poisoning scares and not true poisoning. The evidence used by the casualty doctor and by the parents to diagnose poisoning was explored, and in many cases was circumstantial. Children with fathers in nonmanual occupations were over-represented. This may reflect differences in patterns of utilization behaviour rather than true differences in incidence.     

Aminoglycoside-associated hypomagnesaemia in children with cystic fibrosis

Hypomagnesaemia in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) is under-recognized. We report a child with CF who developed significant hypomagnesaemia following intravenous (i.v.) treatment with aminoglycosides for exacerbations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Three additional cases have also been observed. Investigations in two patients have revealed excessive renal loss of magnesium. It is postulated that renal tubular damage secondary to the cumulative effects of repeated courses of aminoglycosides resulted in hypomagnesaemia, and we suggest screening for this problem by monitoring serum magnesium regularly in all patients with CF receiving multiple courses of aminoglycosides.     

Thrombosis at venous insertion sites after inferior vena caval filter placement

Color Doppler flow imaging or compression ultrasound (US) was used to prospectively determine frequency of thrombosis at 54 venous insertion sites (47 in common femoral veins, seven in right internal jugular veins) after percutaneous placement of Greenfield filters for interruption of the inferior vena cava. Fifty-one filters were successfully placed in 51 patients with a dilator set or a balloon angioplasty catheter. Nine focal thrombi were detected in the common femoral vein (19%) and one in the right internal jugular vein (14%). Use of dilators induced eight thrombi (24%), compared with two (10%) from balloon catheters. The left common femoral vein had a high frequency of thrombosis, regardless of dilation technique (five of nine). Of nine patients with acute common femoral vein thrombosis, four became symptomatic within 10 days after the procedure. Patients may remain asymptomatic or have delayed symptoms; thus, US is valuable for determining patients at risk of thrombosis of the common femoral vein.     

The application of anatomical side markers during abdominal and IVU examinations: An investigation of practice prior to and post-installation of computed radiography (CR)

Professionally, radiographers are accountable for their practice. Available literature highlights the ramifications of not using anatomical side markers within the primary beam. It was thought by the authors that the installation of a computed radiography (CR) system could potentially cause a change in practice due to the ease of adding anatomical side markers manually/electronically during post-processing. This study assessed anatomical marker use within the primary beam at a district general hospital in East Anglia, one-year pre-CR installation and one-year post-CR installation. 100 abdominal images were evaluated from each time period and the presence of anatomical side markers was recorded and compared to establish any significant change. The study showed that although there was a decline in use of anatomical side markers used within the primary beam post-CR installation (from 32% to 25%), the changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the agreed standard of 100% images having the primary beam side marker present was not met. There is a conflict of opinion about the necessity for anatomical side markers to be used within the primary beam. However, the researchers believe there is a case for recommending alterations and improvements to practice to comply with ‘best practice’ requirements.     

Infusible platelet membrane microvesicles: a potential transfusion substitute for platelets

BACKGROUND: Several substitutes for intact, viable platelets have been used for transfusion, both to people and in animal models, with varied success. Infusible platelet membrane (IPM) is prepared from human platelets. IPM retains the glycoprotein (GP)lb receptor and has platelet factor 3 activity (procoagulant activity). However, factor V, serotonin, a cytoplasmic marker enzyme (purine nucleotide phosphorylase), GPIIb/IIIa complex, and HLA class I and II antigens are all absent in IPM. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: IPM is prepared from outdated platelets. The platelets were disrupted by freezing and thawing; they were washed and heated to inactivate possible viral contaminants, and then the sonicated membrane microvesicle fraction was separated and lyophilized. The hemostatic activity of IPM was measured by its ability to reduce the prolonged bleeding time in thrombocytopenic rabbits. RESULTS: Administration of IPM at a dose of 2 mg per kg results in a substantial reduction in the bleeding time. In a series of 23 experiments, a median preinjection bleeding time of 15 minutes was reduced to 6 minutes within 4 hours after IPM administration. Administration of IPM did show a mild enhancement in the thrombogenicity index, as measured in the Wessler rabbit model. This enhancement is, however, not significant, as a thrombogenicity index value of up to 0.6 is clinically acceptable. CONCLUSION: IPM may have clinical potential as a substitute for platelets in the treatment of bleeding due to thrombocytopenia.     

下坡运动对大鼠骨骼肌肌浆网功能的影响

目的：观测研究下坡(离心)运动对大鼠骨骼肌肌浆网Ca2+-ATP酶活性,Ca2+摄取与释放在量与时程上的影响。此外,测定离子载体的刺激作用,即测定在含与不含(Ca2+离子载体)A23187时Ca2+-ATP酶活性的比值,用以评定囊泡的完整性。方法：成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照与离心运动组, 离心运动的大鼠分别于运动后即刻, 4, 24, 48, 72 和144h后取样 (n=7). 离心运动方式采用90min持续跑台下坡运动(-16°;15m/min)。取大鼠红股肌制备组织匀浆, 测定肌浆网Ca2+-ATP酶活性,Ca2+摄取与释放。结果：与对照组[19.25±1.38 nmol ·min-1·(mg protein)-1]相比, 肌浆网Ca2+摄取分别于运动后即刻和4h下降了29% and 36% (P<0.05), 24h依然降低(P<0.05). 肌浆网Ca2+释放与对照组[31.06±2.36 nmol·min-1·(mg protein)-1] 相比,也分别于运动后即刻和4h下降了37% and 39% (P<0.05), 24h持续降低(P<0.05). 用含离子载体测定的肌浆网Ca2+-ATP酶活性运动后4h降低了31%(P<0.05), 并于运动后24h仍然降低 (P<0.05)。运动后, 含与不含A23187时测定的Ca2+-ATP酶活性的比值未见显著性改变, 表明该运动没有明显改变肌浆网膜的完整性。结论：一次性低强度，长时间下坡运动导致肌浆网功能长时间降低, 运动后恢复期两天尚未完全恢复, 亦可构成离心运动诱导的骨骼肌某些功能降低的基础。提示这些变化可能产生于离心收缩时肌节长度不匀一性所造成的张力应激。