Type I aortic dissection in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta

The previously undescribed association between aortic dissection and osteogenesis imperfecta is reported in a 39-year-old man with known osteogenesis imperfecta, who presented with a type I aortic dissection. His ascending aorta was repaired using a Dacron tube graft under hypothermic circulatory arrest but the patient died 12 h later, following re-dissection around the left coronary ostium resulting in massive myocardial infarction of the left ventricle.     

A survey of breast cancer detection methods in long-term care facilities

The majority of women residents in long-term care facilities are at high risk for the development of breast cancer. Routine breast cancer detection methods are indicated but not used for women in long-term care facilities on Long Island, New York. There appears to be an age-related bias concerning breast cancer detection of long-term care residents among health-care providers. There is no literature that addresses the need for breast cancer detection among residents in long-term care facilities.     

Androgen receptors in osteoblast-like cell lines

Summary Although androgens exert major effects on bone remodeling, the mechanisms by which they exert their effects remain unclear. Recently, it has become apparent that receptors for sex steroids may be present in osteoblastic cells. We have examined several cell lines with osteoblastic phenotypes to determine if specific, high affinity androgen receptors are present. Two cell lines of human origin (Saos-2 and U2-OS) and one of rat origin (UMR-106.01) were studied. Androgen binding sites were present in all cell lines. Binding affinities were high (K_D=1.6−2.5×10⁻¹⁰ M), and similar to those in classical androgen target tissues (prostate, kidney). Concentrations were greater in the human cell lines (1277 and 1605 sites/cell) than in the rodent line (74 sites/cell). In the human cell lines androgen binding was also specific and typical of androgen receptors in other tissues. Specific estrogen binding was not present in the UMR-106.01 cells, and no estrogen receptors were detectable in the human cell lines using an enzyme-linked receptor immunoassay. Specific binding for progesterone was also absent in the UMR-106.01 cells, but progesterone receptors were detected immunologically in the Saos-2 (119 sites/cell) and U2-OS (118 sites/cell) lines. These findings indicate the presence of androgen receptors that are of similar character to those in classical androgen target tissues, and suggest that the study of these cell lines may be useful in the study of the regulation of androgen effects in osteoblasts.     

Carotid artery resection for head and neck cancer.

Occasionally, the head and neck surgeon encounters a patient whose malignancy involves the carotid artery. In these patients, curative or palliative surgery may require excision of the common or the internal carotid artery. However, the high complication and death rates dissuade many surgeons from undertaking carotid artery resection. This study reviews the outcomes in 20 patients treated between 1979 and 1985 at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, with resection of the carotid artery for head and neck cancer. The carotid artery was electively resected in 16 patients, while 4 patients underwent emergent carotid artery ligation. In the group of patients studied the stroke rate was 25%, the death rate 20%, and the combined stroke and death rate 30%. Of the patients who survived the procedure, all but 1 died of complications caused by tumor recurrence. These results are discussed, and compared with results from other studies.     

Reduction of the severity of experimental gastric and duodenal ulceration by interleukin-1 beta

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been reported to stimulate prostaglandin synthesis by the rat stomach in vitro and to inhibit gastric acid secretion in vivo. We have therefore tested the hypothesis that IL-1 beta might have protective actions in experimental models of gastroduodenal ulceration. IL-1 beta, given i.p., dose and time dependently reduced the severity of ethanol-induced gastric damage. A pretreatment time of 90 min was found to produce the greatest reduction of damage, while doses of 0.1 micrograms/kg or greater were found to produce significant effects. The protective actions of IL-1 beta were abolished by prior boiling or by pretreatment of the animals with indomethacin, and were not shared by the nonapeptide fragment 163-171. IL-1 beta also reduced the severity of gastric damage induced by indomethacin and the duodenal ulceration induced by cysteamine. The results indicate that IL-1 beta has protective actions in three separate experimental models of gastroduodenal ulceration. The mechanism of action of IL-1 beta is not entirely clear, but contributions of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis and inhibition of gastric acid secretion cannot be excluded.