Infarction of an accessory spleen causing an acute abdomen

A case is presented of a five year old girl in whom an acute surgical abdomen developed due to torsion and infarction of an accessory spleen. Other similar cases in the literature are reviewed. The incidence, location, and embryologic aspects of accessory spleens are discussed. Infarction of an accessory spleen, although rarely the cause of an acute surgical abdomen, should be considered in the differential diagnosis.     

Hepatic transaminase in protein-restricted rats: development of a controlled model

A marginal protein malnutrition model which makes allowances for the increasing nutritional requirements of the growing rat and the effects of dietary manipulation on diurnal rhythms, while still rigidly controlling the level of protein restriction, is reported. A predetermined, constantly increasing intake of four purified diets, providing approximately 40 to 160% of the National Research Council protein requirement for rats was fed to rats receiving a nitrogen-free energy source adlibitum. This standardization reduced within-group variation and allowed precise growth reproducibility. Biochemical parameters were measured at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day to remove diurnal differences from between-group comparisons. Growth, nitrogen balance, and 24-hour means of liver weight, DNA, RNA, protein, and glutamate-oxaloacetate and glutamate-pyruvate transaminases reflected protein intake. However, when growth was depressed 10, 30, or 60%, liver GPT/DNA was depressed 40, 49, or 67%, respectively. Hepatic GPT appears to be a sensitive and accurate indicator of marginal protein malnutrition.     

Use of sagittal images for localization of the subthalamic nucleus. Technical note

Direct observation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is not always possible, and physicians at many centers rely on indirect methods that relate the position of the STN to more easily recognized structures such as the red nucleus (RN). In this paper the authors describe an indirect method of viewing the STN based on the anatomy depicted on sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) images. A review of sagittal slices appearing in standard stereotactic atlases showed that the STN lies within the angle formed by the descending internal capsule (IC) and the substantia nigra (SN). The authors' technique consists of marking the location of the STN in this nigrocapsular angle on each sagittal MR image between the RN and the lateral border of the brainstem, and transferring these points to axial MR images to build a locus of points used to describe the STN. A point is chosen in the center of this locus as the stereotactic target. Two hundred eighty-two sagittal images obtained from 71 MR imaging studies performed in 29 patients by using a fast-spin echo inversion-recovery technique were examined for the presence of the STN, the SN, and the IC. The descending IC could be detected in 97% of the slices, the SN in 95% of the slices, and the STN in 73% of the slices. This indirect method involving sagittal anatomy can be used to refine localization of the STN.     

Animal welfare and international trade

Globalisation is becoming a force that is revolutionising international trade, particularly that of animals and animal products. There is increasing interest in animal welfare worldwide, and as part of its 2001-2005 Strategic Plan the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) identified the development of international standards on animal welfare as a priority. The OIE's scientific approach to standard-setting provides the foundation for the development, and acceptance by all OIE Member Countries, of these animal welfare guidelines. The paper discusses how these guidelines on animal welfare can be implemented, both within the provisions of World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements and within the framework of voluntary codes of conduct. Even if animal welfare guidelines are not covered by any WTO agreements in the future, bi- and multilateral agreements, voluntary corporate codes, and transparent labelling of products should result in a progressive acceptance of OIE guidelines. Ultimately, consumer demands and demonstrable gains in animal production will result in an incremental evolution in animal welfare consciousness and adherence to international standards.     

Thoracic wall involvement by Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: CT evaluation

Thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scans of 250 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent lymphoma revealed thoracic wall involvement in 24 patients (11 with Hodgkin disease, 13 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Thoracic wall involvement occurred without contiguous mediastinal or parenchymal involvement in 17 patients. Of these, 13 patients had masses beneath the pectoralis muscles or within the breast, and four had masses arising from the ribs. Five additional patients had mediastinal masses with thymic involvement and parasternal extension through the thoracic wall. Pulmonary parenchymal lymphoma with thoracic wall invasion was noted in the remaining two patients. In five of nine patients receiving radiation therapy, treatment plans were modified by CT demonstration of thoracic wall lymphoma.     

A rapid agglutination assay to detect anti-streptokinase antibodies

Background Streptokinase resistance may cause suboptimal thrombolytic therapy. Aim To develop a rapid latex-bead assay to detect streptokinase antibodies. Methods Sera were obtained from 16 patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (MI) before treatment with streptokinase and 1 and 6 months post treatment, and from 100 controls. Sera were assayed for anti-streptokinase antibodies using a functional streptokinase-neutralising assay. Results Streptokinase-neutralising activity was low in controls (54±5U/ml) and patients prior to treatment (101±18), increasing to 2,110±823 and 1,017±169 at 1 and 6 months (mean±SEM). The latex assay had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 93% for detecting individuals with >350U/ml of streptokinase resistance, which is sufficient to neutralise the drug clinically. Conclusions Estimation of streptokinase resistance using an enzyme immunoassay and a latex bead assay correlated well with serum neutralising activity. This assay can rapidly identify patients who have a high level of streptokinase-neutralising activity.