Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Presenting with Isolated Cauda Equina Compression

A 50-year-old man, who had previously been well, presented withsymptoms and signs of progressive cauda equina compression.This was shown to be due to an extradural lesion which on biopsywas found to be a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the small cell lymphocytetype. There was no evidence of lymphoma deposits elsewhere.Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma rarely affects the central nervous systemexcept as a late feature of widely disseminated disease. Thiscase demonstrates that isolated spinal infiltration in the absenceof widespread disease can be a mode or presentation of a non-Hodgkin'slymphoma. Accordingly primary extradural non-Hodgkin's lymphomashould be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinalcord and root compression.     

A sporotrichoid-like Mycobacterium kansasii infection of the skin treated with minocycline hydrochloride

A sporotrichoid-like Mycobacterium kansasii infection of the skin is reported. This is the fifth reported case in the English literature of dermatological manifestations of a M. kansasii infection and the first reported case of a response to minocycline hydrochloride therapy.     

Molecular approach to the study of inherited kidney diseases: A way to understand the mechanisms of disease

Summary: Recent progress in molecular genetics has provided understanding of the molecular mechanisms of inherited disorders (and also of more general mechanisms). This progress is first based on good clinical observations, as was recently demonstrated in the identification of the PKD1 gene in a family with a chromosomal translocation. These advances are also of value for better classification of hereditary diseases and for better genetic counselling of the affected families, as shown in Alport's syndrome.     

Acute Ischemic Sinus Node Dysfunctions in Dogs

The effects of the occlusion of the two main atrial arteries irrigating the sinus node on sinus rhythm and postpacing sinus recovery were studied in 12 anesthetized dogs. Records of spontaneous rhythm and of postpacing sinus recovery were taken at control and hourly for 6 hours after the occlusion. The spontaneous cycle length (AA interval) was 335 +/- 11 ms at control and 416 +/- 17 ms (mean +/- SE) (p less than 0.005) one hour after the occlusion. It remained nearly unchanged during the following 5 hours of observation. The occlusion also shortened atrioventricular conduction time (AV interval) and reduced P-wave amplitude in ECG lead II in 9 of these dogs. While the control postpacing sinus recovery time was 397 +/- 13 ms, the 1-hour value was 715 +/- 165 ms. This prolongation persisted during the first four postocclusion hours but was less marked during the last two hours of observation. Moreover, the postpacing mode of return of the AA intervals to their prepacing value (sinus recovery pattern) became characteristically slow and progressive after occlusion, complete postpacing recovery often occurring only after 100 or more beats. Sequences of escape atrial and/or AV junctional rhythms were frequently seen during this recovery. Atrial extrasystoles and short sequences of atrial tachycardias were observed in most dogs after occlusion. Conversely, none of these changes occurred during a 6-hour experimental time in 5 control dogs in which the same protocol, occlusion excepted, was repeated. These observations show that the sinus node function in the dog is consistently affected by impairing its blood supply. Ischemic dysfunctions include sinus slowing, pacemaker shift, prolonged sinus recovery time, delayed postpacing recovery and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.     

Solubility of peptides in trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solutions Hypothesis on the precipitation mechanism

The assessment of proteolysis levels is often achieved by global quantification of the peptides soluble at different TCA concentrations, but little information is available on the features of this precipitation mechanism. Peptic, tryptic and chymotryptic digests of x_sl, β, and κ caseins have been prepared and fractionated by RP-HPLC and each isolated peptide was identified. Each digest was precipitated by adding TCA to different final concentrations (2, 4, 8, and 12%). The soluble fraction was analysed by RP-HPLC. Relationships have been searched between the properties of 75 peptides obtained in this way, and their solubilities in TCA. The best correlation was found with the peptide retention time in RP-HPLC, which can be regarded as the experimental measure of peptide hydrophobicity. We concluded that TCA, by interacting with peptides, induces an increase of the hydrophobicity of peptides which can lead to aggregation through hydrophobic interactions.     

Synthesis of analogues of the Des-Phe-NH2C-terminal hexapeptide of cholecystokinin showing gastrin antagonist activity

Four analogues of Z-CCK-27–32-NH₂, Z-Tyr(SO₃-)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-NH₂, a cholecystokinin receptor antagonist have been synthesized by solution methodology. In these analogues, Z-Tyr(SO₃-)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-NH₂ 16, Z-Tyr(SO₃-)-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-NH₂ 17, BOC-Tyr(SO₃-)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-NH₂ 24 and Boc-Tyr(SO₃-)-Met-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-NH₂ 25 methionyl residues were replaced by norleucyl residues. Preliminary biological activity on gastrin-induced acid secretion, in rat, are reported. These derivatives proved to antagonize the action of gastrin, with ED 50 of between 0.5 and 3 mg/kg.     

Intestinal and systemic humoral immunological events in the susceptible Balb/C mouse strain after oral administration of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs

The aim of the study was to investigate the systemic and, for the first time, the intestinal humoral events in the susceptible Balb/C mouse strain after oral administration of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs. Thirty-one mice were divided into three groups; W-2 , W-8 and control group. Each mouse of the W-2 and W-8 groups was orally infected with 1,500 E. multilocularis eggs, two weeks and eight weeks before sacrifice respectively. Control group mice received phosphate buffer saline. Measurement of anti- E. multilocularis and non-specific IgG, IgA and IgM, and of a transudation marker, albumin, were performed in serum and intestinal washings by a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. These results were complemented by microscopic examination of the intestinal mucosa. This infection model is well-suited to the study of mucosal immunity during alveolar echinococcosis. It showed a major specific intestinal response in the early stage of the disease whereas the systemic response predominated later in the disease. Histopathological studies and calculation of the relative coefficient of excretion of Ig also confirmed that the presence of the parasite, even during a short period, was responsible for a local immunological and inflammatory response and for a change in mucosal permeability. Mucosal immunity could thus play a role in tolerance induction against E. multilocularis that could be a prerequisite for the subsequent development of the larvae in the liver, and for the occurrence of the parasitic disease, alveolar echinococcosis .     

Exploring the reasons for non-participation of women in a breast cancer screening campaign

Study objectives: to determine the reasons for non-participationin a programme of screening for breast cancer. Design: semi-structuredtelephone interview. Setting: a pilot programme of screeningby mammography, targeted at all women aged between 50 and 70years in two regions of Switzerland. Population: a sample of33 non-participants were interviewed. Main results: few non-participantstook advantage of the screening tests for female cancers. However,only one-quarter were determined never to have a mammography.The others did not participate because of organizational problems(one-quarter) or because they did not understand what a mammographyinvolved (half). Conclusions: there is considerable scope forincreasing the rate of participation. Efforts must be made toimprove the information directed at the socially less favoured(the objectives of the screening and the organizational arrangements).Family doctors are frequently consulted and are best placedto communicate this information. They should be encouraged toplay a much more active part in this respect.