Protective role of metabolism by intestinal microflora in butyl paraben-induced toxicity in HepG2 cell cultures

Parabens are alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (BA), including methyl paraben (MP), ethyl paraben, propyl paraben (PP), and butyl paraben (BP). In the present study, possible role of metabolism by fecalase in BP-induced cytotoxicity was investigated in HepG2 cell cultures. As an intestinal bacterial metabolic system, a human fecalase prepared from human fecal specimen was employed. Among the parabens tested, cytotoxicity of BP was most severe. BA, the de-esterified metabolite, did not induce cytotoxicity when compared to other parabens. When BP was incubated with fecalase, it rapidly disappeared, in association with reduced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. In addition, BP incubated with fecalase significantly caused an increase in Bcl-2 expression together with a decrease in Bax expression and cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, anti-apoptotic effect by the incubation of BP with fecalase was also confirmed by the TUNEL assay. Furthermore, BP induced a sustained activation of the phosphorylation of JNK only when it was treated alone. Meanwhile, BP-induced cell death was reversed by the pre-incubation of BP with either fecalase or SP600125. Taken together, the findings suggested that metabolism of BP by human fecalase might have protective effects against BP-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells.     

Collaborative computational anatomy: an MRI morphometry study of the human brain via diffeomorphic metric mapping

This article describes a large multi-institutional analysis of the shape and structure of the human hippocampus in the aging brain as measured via MRI. The study was conducted on a population of 101 subjects including nondemented control subjects (n = 57) and subjects clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD, n = 38) or semantic dementia (n = 6) with imaging data collected at Washington University in St. Louis, hippocampal structure annotated at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and anatomical shapes embedded into a metric shape space using large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) at the Johns Hopkins University. A global classifier was constructed for discriminating cohorts of nondemented and demented subjects based on linear discriminant analysis of dimensions derived from metric distances between anatomical shapes, demonstrating class conditional structure differences measured via LDDMM metric shape (P < 0.01). Localized analysis of the control and AD subjects only on the coordinates of the population template demonstrates shape changes in the subiculum and the CA1 subfield in AD (P < 0.05). Such large scale collaborative analysis of anatomical shapes has the potential to enhance the understanding of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.     

Self-subsidization of educational expenses by senior radiology residents

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to document the degree of self-subsidization of educational expenses by senior radiology residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to all radiology residents (n = 176) attending the New Jersey Medical School board review course held twice in 2006. Respondents (n = 175) documented the number and source of financial support for review courses they had or would attend, including the AFIP course in radiologic pathology. They also listed the amount of additional financial allowances paid to them by their programs and cited the funding source for the radiology board examinations. RESULTS: Average AFIP expenditure, including tuition, room, board, and travel, equaled 3,969 dollars +/- 45 dollars, of which 46% was paid by the residents themselves. The respondents attended, on average, two review courses costing 4,116 dollars +/- 149 dollars, bearing 77% of the costs. The average additional allowance paid to residents was 1,938 dollars +/- 156 dollars. Total board expenditures of 3,120 dollars, including fees and travel, were borne entirely by the residents. Total out-of-pocket expenses for these activities was 7,928 dollars +/- 165 dollars, which amounted to 16% of senior residents' average annual salary (49,746 dollars). CONCLUSION: The desire by both programs and trainees for success on the radiology board examination has stimulated the growth of review courses. The enduring popularity of the AFIP course has made this activity an essential rotation for most radiology residency programs. Each of these off-site opportunities incurs significant financial obligations to residents, and when added to the cost of the board exams, equals 16% of their average annual salary. Thus radiology residents are subsidizing their education to a considerable degree relative to their salaries. This study reveals that senior radiology residents significantly subsidize their education and bear the burden of hidden costs associated with their training.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as neutrophilic leukaemoid reaction--a rare entity

Leukaemoid reaction is a rare, growth factor-driven, paraneoplastic manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma. It may masquerade as the neutrophilic chronic myeloid leukaemia or as chronic neutrophilic leukaemia. A 52-year-old male presented with hepatosplenomegaly and severe leucocytosis. He had progressive leucocytosis, neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score elevated, liver function tests altered. FNAC from the mass in the liver revealed features of moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient deteriorated within two weeks and died thereafter.     

Tubulointerstitial damage as the major pathological lesion in endemic chronic kidney disease among farmers in North Central Province of Sri Lanka

Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in North Central Province of Sri Lanka has become a key public health concern in the agricultural sector due to the dramatic rise in its prevalence and mortality among young farmers. Although cadmium has been suspected as a causative pathogen, there have been controversies. To date, the pathological characteristics of the disease have not been reported. Histopathological observations of 64 renal biopsies obtained at Anuradhapura General Hospital from October 2008 to July 2009 were scored according to Banff 97 Working Classification of Renal Allograft pathology. The correlations between the histological observations and clinical parameters were statistically analyzed. Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy with or without nonspecific interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration was the dominant histopathological observation. Glomerular sclerosis, glomerular collapse, and features of vascular pathology such as fibrous intimal thickening and arteriolar hyalinosis were also common. Although hypertension was identified as one of the common clinical features among the cases, it did not influence the histopathological lesions in all the cases. This study concludes that tubulointerstitial damage is the major pathological lesion in CKDu. Exposure(s) to an environmental pathogen(s) should be systematically investigated to elucidate such tubulointerstitial damage in CKDu.     

Malaria control using deltamethrin impregnated mosquito nets/ insecticide treated bed nets: experience in armed forces

The study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of deltamethrin-impregnated mosquito nets on malaria incidence, mosquito density, any adverse side effect among users. A field trial was carried out over a period of three years in two adjacent military stations at Allahabad (UP), keeping one as a trial and other as a control station. During first year, baseline data were collected and during next two years residual spray was replaced with use of deltamethrin impregnated mosquito nets in trial station. The use of deltamethrin-impregnated mosquito nets/insecticide treated bed nets resulted in a significant decline in malaria incidence and Annual Parasite Index (API). The average mosquito density of Anopheline mosquitoes decreased by 67.8% and Culex by 49.7%. The insecticide was found safe for use amongst troops. Use of deltamethrin-impregnated mosquito nets has beneficial impact on integrated control of malaria.     

Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative detection of portal vein thrombosis in liver transplant candidates.

The detection of main portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on preoperative imaging of liver transplant candidates has important technical implications for the transplantation procedure. Data are scarce regarding the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at detecting PVT. The aim of our study was to compare preoperative findings of the portal vein on MRI to operative findings at liver transplantation. Abdominal MRI and clinical records of 172 consecutive patients who received liver transplants between January 1999 and September 2004 were reviewed. Two radiologists independently evaluated the last abdominal magnetic resonance examinations obtained before liver transplantation, blinded to the original reading, operative findings, and clinical data. Findings on MRI were compared with intraoperative findings at transplantation. Main PVT was detected in 12 patients, in whom 8 were found to have thrombus at surgery, with 6 requiring a jump graft or thrombectomy. Sensitivity and specificity of MRI for detecting main PVT were 100% and 98%, respectively. The cause of discordance between findings on MRI and at transplantation in 2 cases was a diminutive caliber of the main portal vein that was interpreted as recanalized chronic thrombosis on MRI. In conclusion, in our study group MRI detected PVT in all liver transplant recipients requiring jump grafts at transplantation. The major reason for a false-positive MRI was a diminutive but patent portal vein.