Afferent Loop Syndrome: A Different Picture

A patient who had a 50% gastrectomy with a Billroth II gastrojejunostomy one and a half years previously, complained of recent severe weakness as the only symptom and was found to have an iron deficiency anemia with a peri-umbilical mass. A gastrointestinal series showed a soft tissue density in the epigastric area which, by ultrasonography, was found to be fluid-containing. Laparotomy revealed obstruction of the afferent loop caused by a marginal ulcer.     

ATRACURIUM: CLINICAL STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING HISTAMINE RELEASE AND ATTENUATING THE HAEMODYNAMIC RESPONSE

This study was designed to determine the effects of a rapidbolus dose of atracurium 0.6 mg kg^–1 on arterial pressure,heart rate and plasma histamine concentration (n = 9), and tocompare these values with those obtained by (a) giving the samedose of atracurium slowly (over 75 s) (n = 9), or (b) pre-treatingwith H₁- and H₂- antagonists (n = 9). The rapid (5-s) bolusdose of atracurium i.v. resulted in a significant increase inplasma histamine concentration (P < 0.05) and was associatedwith a decrease in mean arterial pressure and an increase inheart rate. Administering the same dose of atracurium slowly(over 75 s) prevented the increase in plasma histamine concentration,and abolished the subsequent haemodynamic response. Pretreatmentwith cimetidine 4 mg kg^–1 i.v. and chlorpheniramine 0.1mg kg^–1 i.v. abolished the haemodynamic response despitea moderate increase in histamine concentration (0.1 > P >0.05).     

Isolated congenital urethrocutaneous fistula

Congenital urethrocutaneous fistula of the male urethra is an extremely rare anomaly that is commonly seen in association with anorectal malformations or chordee. A case of congenital urethrocutaneous fistula not associated with other congenital anomalies is reported, discussing possible etiologies and surgical management.     

The Effects of Selenium on the Emergence of Aflatoxin B1-Induced Enzyme-Altered Foci in Rat Liver

The Effects of Selenium on the Emergence of Aflatoxin B₁-InducedEnzyme-Altered Foci in Rat Liver. MILKS, M. M., WILT, S. R.,ALI, I. I., and COURI, D. (1985). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 5,320–326. The effects of selenium on the emergence of aflatoxinB₁ (AFB₁)-induced enzyme-altered foci were studied in male Sprague-Dawleyrats. Animals were fed a selenium-deficient diet and supplementedwith 5.0, 2.0, and 0.2, or 0 ppm selenium in drinking waterfor 3 weeks prior to initiation with 2.0 µmol/kg AFB₁.After a 1-week period of selenium normalization, the animalswere placed on a diet of ordinary rat chow, and were administereda promoting regimen of 500 ppm phenobarbital in drinking waterfor 1 week, after which time each rat received a two-thirdspartial hepatectomy. The promoting regimen of phenobarbitalin tap water was then reduced to 100 ppm and continued for 7weeks. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed, their liversexcised, and fresh frozen sections prepared and stained histochemicallyto demonstrate areas of -glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity.Selenium supplementation was observed to diminish the inductionof GGT-positive foci, especially at the 5.0-ppm level. Thesedata suggest that selenium is able to protect against the hepatocarcinogeniceffects of AFB₁ in the rat, and that the enzyme-altered focibioassay may be a useful technique in assessing the interactionof selenium on the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

灯盏乙素拮抗硒对人肝细胞L-02毒性的研究

目的 研究灯盏乙素拮抗硒对人肝细胞株L-02毒性作用。方法 采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法研究灯盏乙素和硒对L—02细胞生长的作用；倒置荧光显微镜观察细胞形态变化；测定丙二醛(MDA)、巯基含量和总抗氧化能力等氧化还原相关生化指标。结果 0．5mmol／L灯盏乙素与细胞作用48h时达到促细胞生长最佳条件，且可以显著拮抗1.5μmol／L硒对L—02细胞生长的抑制作用；灯盏乙素和硒共同处理的细胞与仅用硒处理的细胞相比，细胞损伤程度明显减轻，MDA含量显著降低，巯基含量及体系抗氧化能力均显著增高。结论 灯盏乙素通过抗脂质过氧化和提高细胞抗氧化能力拮抗硒对L—02细胞的毒性。