The efficacy of Vermox and albendazole in an experimental model of nippostrongylosis in mice]

Experiments with the model of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and white outbred mice showed that vermox and albendazole are highly effective anthelmintics in nippostrongyliasis. The ED50 of albendazole for 7 days invasion (adult worms) is 148.9 times higher than for 4 days (fourth instar larvae) and 25.1 times higher than for 2 days (third instar larvae). The ED90/ED10 ratio for albendazole is 1.4, 4.4, and 12.4 at days 7, 4, and 2, respectively. At the adult stage, susceptibility to anthelmintics (vermox and albendazole) increases with age.     

Primary adenocarcinoma of seminal vesicle presenting as bladder tumor

A case of primary seminal vesicle carcinoma is described and is discussed in the context of current knowledge regarding the clinicopathologic features of this rare neoplasm.     

Giant middle cerebral aneurysm presenting as hemiathetosis in a child and its spontaneous thrombosis

A 10-year-old girl presented with a 6-week history of gradually increasing, abnormal movements and weakness of the right upper and lower limbs. There were no features of raised intracranial pressure. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed the features of a partially thrombosed giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm, located deep in the left lentiform region and compressing the basal ganglia and the mesencephalon. The angiogram confirmed the aneurysm and its origin from the main trunk of the artery with occlusion of all the branches. A direct approach was unsuitable for the treatment of the aneurysm, so an embolization procedure to occlude the neck of the aneurysm was considered. During the waiting period, the patient improved and became asymptomatic. Follow-up MRI showed complete thrombosis of the aneurysm and eventually, reduction in its size and mass effect. The hemiathetosis may have been the result of direct pressure on the basal ganglia by the aneurysm. The spontaneous intra-aneurysmal thrombosis may have been due to the massive size of the aneurysm and its narrow neck.     

Comparison of strains produced by titanium and poly D, L-lactide Acid plating systems to in vitro forces.

PURPOSE: To determine if a specific resorbable plating system provides similar fixation, in terms of strain distribution under load, to a titanium system when the Champy technique is applied for the treatment of a mandibular angle fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A formalin-fixed cadaver mandible was harvested just before the study. A bicortical osteotomy was then made using a diamond disc extending in an oblique direction in the area of the angle. It was then passively fixated with a 4-hole 2.0-mm miniplate. Two stacked rosette strain gauges were bonded to the mandible on either side of the fracture. Each rosette had 3 strain gauges arranged in specific degrees relative to each other. The mandible was then placed on a dynanometer and 30 lb loads were delivered on the ipsilateral molar. Static resistance was placed in the condylar neck region to simulate the glenoid fossa. Loading was repeated 10 times with a period of 3 minutes between loads. Measurements were recorded for each strain gauge after loads were in place for 30 seconds. The same process was repeated using a 4-hole 2.1-mm resorbable miniplate. The strains were then used to calculate the maximum and minimum strains for each rosette. Hooke's law was used to calculate the principal stresses. RESULTS: Differences were observed between the strain gauges for each individual plating system. There was variability within the resorbable plate measurements as shown by the standard deviation. Using the REML ANOVA test, a significant difference was found between the 2 materials. CONCLUSION: In this in vitro study, there were significant biomechanical differences observed between a 2.0-mm titanium miniplate and a 2.1-mm resorbable miniplate when used to treat a mandibular angle fracture following Champy's principles. Based on our finding, both systems cannot be used interchangeably for the treatment of mandibular angle fractures under the same clinical conditions.     

Ethnic differences in nifedipine kinetics: comparisons between Nigerians, Caucasians and South Asians.

Nifedipine was administered to 12 healthy Nigerian volunteers as a single oral dose of 20 mg capsule under fasting conditions. The pharmacokinetic results were compared with published data using the same protocol and analytical method for 27 Caucasians and 30 South Asians. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of nifedipine in Nigerians (808 +/- 250 ng ml-1 h) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in Caucasians (323 +/- 116 ng ml-1 h) and the difference remained significant (P < 0.001) when corrected for body weight. The elimination half-life was also significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Nigerians (5.03 +/- 1.96 h) than in Caucasians (2.78 +/- 1.11 h). No significant differences were observed between Nigerians and South Asians in either AUC or half-life of nifedipine. The AUC of the nitropyridine metabolite was higher (P < 0.01) in Nigerians (220 +/- 51 ng ml-1 h) compared with that in Caucasians (154 +/- 56 ng ml-1 h) but the difference was not maintained when corrected for body weight. The AUC corrected for body weight and the elimination half-life of the metabolite were significantly higher in South Asians compared with those of Nigerians and Caucasians. The pharmacokinetics of oral nifedipine in Nigerians were similar to those in South Asians and therefore may also arise from a lower systemic clearance compared with Caucasians as has been reported previously for South Asians.     

Effect of intravenous atropine on gastric emptying, paracetamol absorption, salivary flow and heart rate in young and fit elderly volunteers.

1. The effects of atropine on gastric emptying, paracetamol absorption, salivary flow and heart rate were examined in young and elderly subjects. 2. Seven healthy young male subjects of age 23 +/- 1.3 years (mean +/- s.e. mean) and seven fit elderly subjects of age 70 +/- 1.6 years received placebo (P), 300 micrograms atropine (A300) or 600 micrograms atropine (A600) in randomized order at weekly intervals. After 10 min they ingested a 500 ml orange drink containing 1 g paracetamol. Gastric emptying was measured by ultrasound, blood samples were taken to measure plasma paracetamol concentration by h.p.l.c., salivary flow was measured by dental cotton wool cylinder technique and pulse rate was recorded. 3. In young subjects, the gastric 5 min volumes were 260.1 +/- 17.9 ml (s.e. mean) with P, 310.6 +/- 10.5 ml with A300 and 317.9 +/- 8.9 ml with A600. In elderly subjects, the gastric 5 min volumes were 166.7 +/- 10.1 ml with P, 252.6 +/- 13.7 ml with A300 and 266.0 +/- 14.8 ml with A600. Thus the early adaptive phase of gastric emptying was more rapid in the elderly than the young with all treatments (P less than 0.05). The gastric emptying half-lives were 18.8 +/- 2.5 min with P, 30.0 +/- 2.7 min with A300 and 34.5 +/- 3.3 min with A600 in young subjects (P less than 0.01). In elderly subjects, the gastric emptying half-lives were 16.1 +/- 2.5 min with P, 23.7 +/- 2.4 min with A300 and 30.0 +/- 2.9 min with A600 (P less than 0.01). Thus atropine intravenously in therapeutic dose (300 and 600 micrograms) delayed gastric emptying in both young and elderly subjects. The inhibitory effect of atropine on the early adaptive phase of gastric emptying appeared to be greater in the elderly. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of paracetamol was greater in the elderly than young with all treatments (P less than 0.05). There was a close relationship between the early adaptive phase of gastric emptying and paracetamol absorption (P less than 0.05). Atropine reduced salivary flow and increased resting heart rate in both young and old subjects. The effect of atropine on salivary flow was greater in the elderly. 4. The dose-response relationship varied in the three systems (stomach, salivary glands and heart rate) studied. Age had an effect on the magnitude of the response, but not on the slope of the dose-response curve for the two doses of atropine studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases amongst tribals of Car Nicobar Island, India.

In a cross sectional study of total 14514 tribal Nicobarese people of Car Nicobar Island, an union territory of India, situated in Bay of Bengal, morbidity, mortality and treatment practices of diarrhoeal diseases of under-five children were surveyed. The incidence of diarrhoea (0.2 episode/ch.year), Crude death rate (3.6/1000) and IMR (31/1000 live births) were exceedingly low as compared to SouthEast Asian Countries including mainland of India. ORS utilisation rate was high (41%) as compared to the National figure (12.0%). This is the first study of it's kind carried out in this island and amongst the Nicobarese tribe in India. A preliminary study carried out among the mothers of the hospitalised children indicated that protective behaviours like breast feeding, hand washing, use of chlorinated water and proper disposal of stool were regularly being practiced by the community traditionally. An in-depth study on risk factors of diarrhoea in this island can yield useful clue for describing the same.