Some biological effects of scorpion envenomation in late pregnant rats

Scorpion envenoming is less studied during gestation; however, it may induce various biological disturbances in maternal organism and hypothetical ones on their fetuses. The scope of this report was to elucidate some biological effects of such poisoning in late pregnant rats. Hence, TBARS levels in maternal lung, placental and fetal pulmonary and hepatic tissues and dam's biochemical blood parameters (glucose, creatinine, 17-β estradiol, progesterone, blood nitrogen urea, sodium and potassium maternal plasma concentrations) had been evaluated after saline (G1), and scorpion venom (G2: 30 min and G3: 60 min) injections in 22nd day pregnant rats. Histological microscopic examination of these tissues was also carried out in HE-stained paraffin sections. In addition, the mean arterial blood pressure following the envenomation variations was measured in three rats from the same pool. Our results showed that Buthus occitanus tunetanus crude venom induced significant increase in maternal, placental and fetal tissues lipid peroxidation, concomitant with blood pressure elevation. Maternal plasma creatinine, estradiol and progesterone concentrations levelled up significantly after 30 min or later (60 min) after the venom injection. Except for a probable pronounced oedema and few congestions in maternal lungs and degenerative aspects of trophoblast cells, all examined tissues showed a conserved structure. These results suggest that scorpion envenomation may induce gestation process disturbances and threatens both mother's and fetus’ well-being.     

The prognostic importance of fibronectin and sialic acid levels in human pituitary adenomas

In this study, fibronectin and sialic acid levels were determined in human pituitary adenomas. The mean fibronectin and sialic acid levels for human pituitary adenomas were found to be 31.64 ± 15.82 μg/mg protein and 21.90 ± 9.82 μg/mg protein, respectively, versus 6.30 ± 2.96 μg/mg protein and 9.88 ± 2.81 μg/mg protein for the normal brain tissues. Fibronectin and sialic acid levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in human pituitary adenomas than the normal brain tissues. In human infiltrative and non-infiltrative pituitary adenomas, the mean fibronectin and sialic acid levels were found to be 40.87 ± 15.90 μg/mg protein, 27.59 ± 11.10 μg/mg protein and 22.40 ± 9.51 μg/mg protein, 16.21 ± 3.20 μg/mg protein, respectively. Fibronectin and sialic acid levels were slightly elevated (P < 0.05) in human infiltrative pituitary adenomas compared with non-infiltrative adenomas.     

Pathological protective and defensive reactions in early childhood

A group of pathological defenses has been observed in infants between three and eighteen months of age who have experienced danger and deprivation to an extreme degree. The early defenses, "avoidance", "freezing", and "fighting", are apparently summoned from a biological repertoire on the model of "flight or fight". Before there ist an ego, pain ca bei transformed into pleasure of obliterated from consciousness while a symptom stands in place of the original conflict.     

Lead-related gout. A case report

Gout secondary to lead-induced nephropathy is a long-term complication of occupational lead exposure. We report a case of this now-rare condition. The patient was a 63-year-old man who had been a miner from 1950 to 1970. Thirty years after cessation of his exposure to lead, he experienced onset of inflammatory symmetric polyarthritis with joint deformities. Hyperuricemia, moderately severe renal failure, and tubular acidosis were found, indicating gouty polyarthritis. Blood lead levels were high, establishing that the cause was lead poisoning. EDTA chelation therapy was effective. Lead poisoning is frequently under-recognized because the clinical manifestations are often minimal and the diagnosis difficult to establish. We suggest that lead bound to bone may result in continued exposure to lead after cessation of industrial or environmental exposure. Chelating agents are valuable for the diagnosis and can ensure a full recovery.     

Population pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide and its metabolites 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, 2-dechloroethylcyclophosphamide, and phosphoramide mustard in a high-dose combination with Thiotepa and Carboplatin

The anticancer prodrug cyclophosphamide (CP) is activated by the formation of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4OHCP), which decomposes into phosphoramide mustard (PM). This activation pathway is inhibited by thiotepa. CP is inactivated by formation of 2-dechloroethylcyclophosphamide (2DCECP). The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model describing the complex pharmacokinetics of CP, 4OHCP, 2DCECP, and PM when CP is administered in a high-dose combination with thiotepa and carboplatin. Patients received a combination of CP (1000-1500 mg/m/d), carboplatin (265-400 mg/m/d), and thiotepa (80-120 mg/m/d) administered in short infusions over 4 days. Twenty blood samples were collected per patient per course. Concentrations of CP, 4OHCP, 2DCECP, PM, thiotepa, and tepa were determined in plasma. Using NONMEM, an integrated population pharmacokinetic model was used to describe the pharmacokinetics of CP, 4OHCP, 2DCECP, and PM, including the already described processes of autoinduction of CP and the interaction with thiotepa. Data were available on 35 patients (70 courses). The pharmacokinetics of CP were described with a 2-compartment model, and those of 4OHCP, 2DCECP, and PM with 1-compartment models. Before onset of autoinduction, it was assumed that CP is eliminated through a noninducible pathway accounting for 20% of total CP clearance, whereas 2 inducible pathways resulted in formation of 4OHCP (75%) and 2DCECP (5%). It was assumed that 4OHCP was fully converted to PM. Induction of CP metabolism was mediated by 2 hypothetical amounts of enzyme whose quantities increased in time in the presence of CP (kenz=0.0223 and 0.0198 hours). Induction resulted in an increased formation of 4OHCP (approximately 50%), PM (approximately 50%), and 2DCECP (approximately 35%) during the 4-day course, and concomitant decreased exposure to CP (approximately 50%). The formation of 2DCECP was not inhibited by thiotepa. Apparent volumes of distribution of CP, PM, and 2DCECP could be estimated being 43.7, 55.5, and 18.5 L, respectively. Exposure to metabolites varied up to 9-fold. The complex population pharmacokinetics of CP, 4OHCP, 2DCECP, and PM in combination with thiotepa and carboplatin has been established and may form the basis for further treatment optimization with this combination.     

Characteristics of traffic accidents and victims treated through a pre-hospital service in a city in southern Brazil, 1997/2000

Traffic accidents and the resulting injury and trauma constitute an important social and public health problem. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of such accidents and the victims treated by the only pre-hospital service -- the Integrated Trauma and Emergency Aid Service (SIATE) -- in the city of Londrina, Paraná State, southern Brazil, from 1997 to 2000. All victims (14,474) registered in the SIATE database were studied. The majority (> 70.0%) were male and aged 10 to 39 years. Motorcyclists were the most frequent victims (> 40.0%), and accidents occurred most frequently in December, on weekends (especially Saturdays), and at night. These results are consistent with those of other studies showing the need to implement preventive measures targeting young males, especially motorcyclists.     

“Leukemic” pattern of in vitro growth in a patient with Down syndrome and transient myeloproliferative disorder

Peripheral blood cells from a female infant with Down syndrome and over 60% circulating myeloblasts were cultured in soft agar. Growth was virtually restricted to cluster formation, and cluster-forming cells resided almost exclusively in the very light density fraction (SG < 1.062). Morphological assessment of clusters revealed no evidence of cellular differentiation beyond the blast cell stage. Despite receiving no specific chemotherapy, the peripheral blood normalized within 2 months, and there was no evidence of leukemia when the patient died aged 1 year from cardiac pathology. The findings indicate that caution should be exercised when assessing prognosis on the basis of in vitro growth characteristics in such patients.