Dominantly inherited posterior subcapsular cataract

We report on a family in which many family members show dominantly inherited posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC). While PSC is not a particularly uncommon finding, especially from the influence of congenital, systemic disease, ocular disease and toxic factors, reports of genetically determined PSC are comparatively few in the ophthalmic literature.     

The double-fissure sign: a motion artifact on thin-section CT scans

A motion artifact has been observed that may affect the number of fine interstitial lines seen at thin-section (1.5-mm-collimation) computed tomography (CT) for the evaluation of interstitial lung disease. In 14 of 42 patients, one or both major fissures appeared as two parallel lines rather than as a single line. This was more common in the left lung base. Using a phantom, the authors were able to reproduce the phenomenon by simulating cardiac motion. Therefore, this motion may lead to an artifactual increase in the number of interstitial lines.     

Effect of Enflurane, Isoflurane, and Halothane on Pacing Stimulation Thresholds in Man

Volatile anesthetic agents are often used in patients who require temporary epicardial pacing after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, the effect of anesthetic agents on energy stimulation thresholds is unknown. After CPB, 24 patients under diazepam-narcotic-pancuronium anesthesia ventilated with an FIO2 = 1.0 received equipotent concentrations of either enflurane, isoflurane, or halothane. Using temporary epicardial electrodes, energy stimulation thresholds were calculated using the data derived from a pacing systems analyzer. Volatile anesthetics do not change energy stimulation thresholds from those already present under diazepam-narcotic-pancuronium anesthesia.     

TWENTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: THE VALUE OF A HEART ATTACK REGISTER

SUMMARY Registers of disease serve a multitude of purposes, but are of particular importance to those interested in audit, in monitoring the introduction of new treatment or training programmes, in health service research, and in the planning of hospital services. The Nottingham Heart Attack Register has been in operation since 1973 and is proving to be an important data source. We present a brief history of the Register, describe how to set up a disease register and demonstrate how it can be of value to a wide range of health service staff using examples from our experience.     

Lactoferrin decreases monocyte-induced fibroblast production of myeloid colony-stimulating activity by suppressing monocyte release of interleukin-1

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a negative regulator of myelopoiesis which operates by suppressing the release from mononuclear phagocytes of GM colony- stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or monokines which can then induce the release of GM-CSA from accessory cells. In this study, endotoxin- depleted, purified iron-saturated human Lf was assessed for its effect on the production of interleukin-1 by cultured monocytes and their subsequent effect on colony-stimulating factor release from cultured fibroblasts. Monocytes were grown with or without Lf and Lf that had previously been incubated with monoclonal anti-Lf. The monocyte- conditioned medium was then either assayed for the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or for its ability to stimulate fibroblasts to release growth factors for CFU- GM, BFU-E, or CFU-Mix colonies. In the presence of Lf (10(-7) or 10(-8) mol/L), GM colony-stimulating activity (GM-CSA) was suppressed by 31% to 73%, whereas stimulating activities for BFU-E and CFU-mix colony formation were suppressed by 93% to 100%. Antibody to Lf completely abrogated the suppressive effects observed with Lf, whereas antibody to IL-1 ablated the induction by monocyte-conditioned medium of CSA release by fibroblasts. Lf at 10(-7) and 10(-8) mol/L also reduced IL-1 synthesis by cultured monocytes from 60% to 77%. The inhibitory effects of Lf were only observed when Lf was added before adherence of the monocytes for culture. If Lf was added at the time of adherence or after adherence, no suppression was observed. We conclude that the inhibition of GM-CSA production/release by Lf is mediated through inhibition of the synthesis/release of IL-1 by mononuclear phagocytes. This inhibition of IL-1 prevents accessory cells from producing and/or releasing GM-CSA.     

A New Sock Electrode for Recording Epicardial Activation from the Human Heart: One Size Fits All

Simultaneous recording of epicardial activation from multiple sites during open heart surgery is essential for studying unstable ventricular arrhythmias. A previously described sock electrode array for this purpose requires custom-woven nylon sock material and expensive machined button electrodes. The limited compiiance and elasticity of nylon requires that a new sock be individually fitted for each heart. Despite careful fitting, 17–20% of electrodes do not make satisfactory epicardial contact in dogs. Further, electrodes frequently dislodge from the sock and wires break at the button electrode solder joint. Recognizing these limitations, we formed a new sock from Xspan* tubular dressing material and devised electrodes that attach securely to the sock. In six dogs. 90%± 3% of electrodes made satisfactory contact using the same Xspan* sock. significantly (p < .01) more than with the nylon sock despite far less labor. The same size X span* sock with 60 snap electrodes was used to record from 27 human hearts of widely different dimensions. Satisfactory epicardial contact was obtained in 90%± 14% of electrodes in the 18 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) and 75%± 15% of electrodes in the nine patients with coronary artery disease. In no case did an accessory pathway fail to conduct following sock placement. The hemodynamic effect of the Xspan* sock was evaluated in four dogs and was found to be minimal. Both the Xspan* sock and the snap electrodes are easily made from inexpensive, readily available materials. The same Xspan* sock accommodates o wide range of heart sizes, and the electrodes supported by the Xspan* sock record significantly better and with less dislodgement and wire breakage than previous socks.