Mitochondrial tRNALeu isoforms in lung carcinoma cybrid cells containing the np 3243 mtDNA mutation

We have investigated the representation of structural isoforms of the two mitochondrial leucyl tRNAs in lung carcinoma cybrid cell lines containing the np 3243 (MELAS) mtDNA mutation, alone or in combination with the np 12300 suppressor mutation. The mutant tRNALeu(UUR) is aminoacylated very poorly or not at all, whereas the suppressor tRNALeu(CUN) is efficiently aminoacylated. Deacylated mitochondrial tRNALeu(CUN) is present, in all human cells tested, in two structural isoforms that are separable on denaturing gels, indicating a difference in primary structure. The ratio of the two isoforms differs between cell types and is strongly biased towards one isoform in lung carcinoma cybrids containing high levels of the np 3243 mutation, compared with control cybrids. We propose that structural modification of tRNALeu(CUN) could be a natural suppression mechanism for the np 3243 and other mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) mutations and could underlie some of the phenotypic variability of np 3243 disease.      

ANGIOTENSIN II- AND PHORBOL ESTER-INDUCED STEROIDOGENESIS BY OVINE ADRENOCORTICAL CELLS: EFFECT OF SEX AND THE GONADAL STATUS OF THE DONOR ANIMAL

1. Angiotensin II (Angll) is well recognized as a regulator of adrenal Cortisol production in the sheep in vivo, but studies to date have failed to reveal this action on cultured ovine adrenocortical cells. Similarly, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C, also has little effect on Cortisol production from ovine adrenocortical cells in vitro. Previous studies have, however, only looked at the responses to single concentrations of Angll or PMA, but have led to the suggestion that important differences exist between adrenocortical cells of the sheep and other species. 2. We have extended previous studies by examining Cortisol production by ovine adrenocortical cells over 3h in response to a broad range of concentrations of either Angll (10^?10 to 10^?6mol/L) or PMA (10^?10 to 10^?5mol/L). In addition, we have investigated the possible role of gonadal factors in regulating these responses by comparing cultures derived from intact and gonadectomized male and female sheep. 3. Angiotensin II caused concentration-dependent increases (P<0.05) in Cortisol production in all cultures, with Cortisol production in response to Angll being greater (P < 0.05) in cultures from intact male sheep than in the cultures from orchid-ectomized males or intact females. Cortisol production in response to Angll was modest in all groups (two- to 2.6-fold increases). 4. Phorbol myristate acetate elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition (P<0.01) of basal Cortisol production in adrenocortical cultures from all groups. Phorbol myristate acetate produced a greater inhibition (P<0.05) of Cortisol production in cultures from intact male sheep than either the orchidectomized males or intact females. 5. These findings demonstrate that ovine adrenocortical cells are responsive in a concentration-dependent fashion to Angll and PMA. In addition, sex and gonadal factors may play an important role in regulating the responsiveness of adrenocortical cells to these factors.     

Tongue Metastasis from a Poorly Differentiated Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder

Chemotherapy may cause oral ulceration but a thorough investigation of symptoms and signs is important to determine the underlying diagnosis accurately. We describe a case of a patient with a poorly differentiated urothelial carcinoma of the bladder developing a tongue metastasis. This is a challenging diagnosis to make given the rarity of the presentation but it illustrates the need to evaluate any new symptoms fully.     

Progressive dysfunction of monocytes associated with iron overload and age in patients with thalassemia major

We evaluated phagocytic and lytic activities of peripheral blood monocytes (PBMo) from patients with thalassemia major (ThP) using C pseudotropicalis as the target. PBMo from ThP showed decreased lytic activity (P less than .001), whereas the phagocytic activity did not differ from that of the controls. Significant inverse correlations were found between lytic activity of PBMo and age of patients (r2 = .47; P less than .01) and also between lytic activity and serum ferritin levels (r2 = .65; P less than .001). No association was found between lytic activity and other variables (blood transfusion regimens, therapy with desferrioxamine, liver damage, and the presence of sHBAg). Splenectomy showed no positive effect on PBMo functions from ThP. Our results suggest that PBMo from ThP have an intracellular defect in their microbicidal mechanisms associated with iron overload. This cell dysfunction could be responsible, at least in part, for the increased susceptibility to infections reported in ThP.     

Tamm-Horsfall蛋白对草酸钙结晶成核和聚集的影响

目的 在人工尿液中，观察不同浓度及不同性质的Tamm-Horsfall蛋白对草酸钙的成核，生长，聚集的影响。方法 通过分光光度计在620μm时的A值的测定可在过饱和溶液中观察草酸钙晶体的成核和积聚。观察参数包括诱导时间（inducetime），简写为，TI，即形成可观察微粒所需的时间；成核曲线（slope of nucleation）的速率，简写为SN，即分光光度计A620所观察的曲线上升支；聚积曲线（slopeofaggregation）的速率，简写为SA，即下降支，以及加入不同浓度的NTHP（正常人尿液中所提取的TH蛋白），SF-THP（结石患者尿液中所提取的TH蛋白）后对参数的影响。结果 草酸钙结晶实验的诱导时间为（60．0±2．0）s，成核速率（SN）（1．058±0．036）×10^-3／s，聚集速率（SA）为（0．074±0．006）×10^-3／s．NTHP浓度20mg／L时，诱导时间（59±8）s；NTHP30mg／L时，诱导时间（63±11）s；NTHP40mg／L时，诱导时间（57±6）s，NTHP既可抑制晶体成核，又可抑制晶体的聚集。SF-THP20mg／L时，诱导时间（37±2）s；SF-THP30mg／L时，诱导时间（34±3）s；SF-THP40mg／L时，诱导时间（31±5）s，ST-THP降低TI并且促进聚集。结论 NTHP和ST-THP对草酸钙晶体的结晶动力学的影响是不同的。     

Experience of Health Complaints and Help Seeking Behavior in Employees Screened for Depressive Complaints and Risk of Future Sickness Absence

Introduction The aim of this study was to examine the associations between on the one hand depressive complaints and risk of future sickness absence and on the other hand experience of health complaints and help seeking behavior in the working population. Methods Cross-sectional data were used from employees working in the banking sector (n = 8,498). The screening instrument included measures to examine the risk of future sickness absence, depressive complaints and help seeking behavior. Results Of employees reporting health complaints, approximately 80% had already sought help for these complaints. Experience of health complaints and subsequent help seeking behavior differed between employees with mild to severe depressive complaints and employees at risk of future sickness absence. Experience of health complaints was highest in employees identified with both concepts (69%) compared with employees identified at risk of future sickness absence only (48%) and with mild to severe depressive complaints only (57%). In those employees identified with one or both concepts and who had not sought help already, intention to seek help was about 50%. Conclusions From a screening perspective, employees who do not experience health complaints or who do not have the intention to seek help may refuse participation in early intervention. This might be a bottleneck in the implementation of preventive interventions in the occupational health setting.     

Factor X deficiency in the neonatal period

An infant with a severe deficiency of factor X presened in the neonatal period with uncontrollable bleeding from heel prick sites, spontaneous bruising, and haematoma. The deficiency was controlled by infusions of dried human factors II, IX, and X concentrate; the half-life of the infused factor X material is only 18 hours. Despite prophylactic weekly infusions of factor X concentrate, the child developed a fatal intracerebral haemorrhage when only 4 months old. Coagulation studies on both parents and the elder sister showed no obvious coagulation abnormality.     

Synopsis of non-communicable diseases in children admitted to the paediatric ward of the university of Nigeria teaching hospital (UNTH) Enugu,Nigeria: A ten year review

Background:

Non-communicable diseases are increasing worldwide due to rapidly changing lifestyles and socio-economic status. It is contributing significantly to the global burden of diseases.

Objective:

To determine the pattern of non-communicable diseases in children admitted into the Paediatrics ward in a tertiary health centre in Enugu.

Materials and Methods:

A review of admissions into the Paediatrics ward of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, between January 1999 and December 2008 was done using the registry of admission and discharge.

Results:

The age range of patients admitted during the period was 2 months to 18 years (mean 5.27 ± 5.42 years). There were 1173 (59.6%) males and 796 (40.4%) females. Disorders of the haematological system accounted for 514 (23.3%) of the non-communicable diseases among the admissions, malignancies accounted for 424 (19.2%) among the admissions, whereas the renal, central nervous, and cardiovascular systems were involved in 282 (12.8%), 274 (12.4%), and 241 (10.9%) patients, respectively. There were 274 (12.4%) deaths and 1667 (75.5%) discharges while 38 (1.7%) were discharged against medical advice. Data on 221(10.2%) of the patients were reported missing. Malignancies contributed to 75 (27.3%) of the deaths, haematological disorders accounted for 44 (16%) whereas renal disorders and nutritional disorders contributed to 43 (15.7%) and 41 (15%) of the deaths, respectively.

Conclusion:

Non-communicable diseases affect children in our environment and contribute to morbidity and mortality in children. Strategies to prevent these diseases should be encouraged in order to avert the challenges of double burden of the diseases in children.     

WIDE ANGLE ATTACHMENT FOR FUNDUS CAMERAS

A simple and inexpensive method for increasing the angle of view of existing fundus cameras used for fluorescein angiography is described. The addition of a concavo-convex positive lens extends the usefulness of the camera and contributes to the efficiency of diagnosis.