Rifampin alone or with trimethoprim for contacts of children with Haemophilus influenzae type b infections.

We carried out a nonrandomized, unblinded study to compare the efficacy of rifampin alone with that of rifampin in combination with trimethoprim in the eradication of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) carrier state among contacts of patients with invasive HIB infection. The study population comprised 17 index patients admitted to hospital with severe HIB infections and 233 contacts, 43 of whom had nasopharyngeal colonization with HIB of the same biotype as that of the index patient. Rifampin in a daily dose of 20 mg/kg (maximum 600 mg) for 4 days eradicated the carrier state in 86% of cases, as did the combination of rifampin at the same dosage and trimethoprim in a daily dose of 5 mg/kg (maximum 160 mg) for 4 days.     

Convenience food use in households with male food preparers

Data from the household portion of the 1977-78 USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Survey were used to determine expenditures for convenience and nonconvenience foods and nutrients from those foods. Households with male food preparers accounted for approximately 15% of the survey population, frequently included only one person, and had a larger proportion of young and elderly heads of household than households with a female food preparer. As a group, the foods most frequently reported in households with male food preparers were quite similar to those used by households with female food preparers. Male food preparers spent less of the food dollar on nonconvenience items than did other food preparers, and conversely they spent more on complex and manufactured convenience foods. Total food energy and nutrient levels per nutrition unit of the foods used by households with male food preparers were significantly higher than those in households with female food preparers for all nutrients except thiamin and riboflavin. However, the values were more than 100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance values except for vitamin B-6 for both sample groups.     

Ischemic rat brain extracts induce human marrow stromal cell growth factor production

Intravenous administration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats provides functional benefit. We tested the hypothesis that these functional benefits are derived in part from hMSC production of growth and trophic factors. Quantitative sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of hMSCs cultured with normal and MCAo brain extracts were performed. hMSCs cultured in supernatant derived from ischemic brain extracts increased production of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These neurotrophins and angiogenic growth factors increased in a post‐ischemia time‐dependent manner. The hMSC capacity to increase expression of growth and trophic factors may be the key to the benefit provided by transplanted hMSCs in the ischemic brain.     

Topography of median eminence somatostatinergic innervation

Somatostatin (SRIF) in the central nervous system is mostly concentrated in the median eminence (ME). Immunocytochemical methods have revealed high densities of SRIF-positive perikarya between the preoptic area and the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (NPE). The aim of the present study was to define more precisely the specific pathways of SRIF neurons from NPE to the ME. SRIF levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, following various hypothalamic transections. Frontal periventricular sections decreased SRIF-ME content by 70% (P less than 0.01), when located at the anterior end of the ME but no diminution was observed when the cuts were located anteriorly or posteriorly. Parasaggital transections decreased SRIF-ME levels by 50% (P less than 0.05) when located at the outer border of the ventromedial and premammillary nucleus, but the decrease was not significant when cuts were located anteriorly. Taken together, our data indicate that most SRIF-containing neurons, originating in the NPE, do not reach the ME directly along the border of the 3rd ventricle; instead they form a loop across the medial forebrain bundle before re-entering the mediobasal hypothalamus at the ME level.     

Effect of oxygen withdrawal on active and passive electrical properties of arterially perfused rabbit ventricular muscle

Oxygen withdrawal from myocardial cells leads to changes of the transmembrane action potential (mainly action potential shortening), to cellular uncoupling, and to changes of vascular permeability. This study was aimed at the simultaneous measurement of electrical activity and passive electrical properties (extracellular and intracellular longitudinal resistance) in arterially perfused rabbit papillary muscles under different conditions of changed oxygen supply. These included 1) complete anoxia (erythrocyte-free perfusate), 2) hypoxia (PO2 between 23-28 mm Hg, erythrocytes present) in the presence and absence of glucose, and 3) normoxia with erythrocyte-free perfusate. Similarly to myocardial ischemia, rapid cellular uncoupling occurred only after an initial stable period of approximately 17 minutes, and it required complete anoxia. The marked shortening of the action potential developed before cellular uncoupling. In six out of eight experiments, the fibers were inexcitable when uncoupling started. In severe hypoxia, no significant change of internal longitudinal resistance was observed over 35-40 minutes. The time course of the extracellular longitudinal resistance was different from the change in intracellular resistance: A marked decrease occurred almost immediately after the onset of oxygen withdrawal. This decrease was followed by a small increase in conduction velocity, which was most likely due to a change in the interstitial compartment (edema). It was observed during anoxic as well as during hypoxic perfusion. We conclude that 1) cellular uncoupling in arterially perfused tissue requires almost complete oxygen lack and occurs with a delay of more than 10 minutes, 2) marked action potential shortening precedes uncoupling, and therefore can not simply be attributed to an increase in free, intracellular calcium, and 3) vascular endothelial function is more sensitive to oxygen withdrawal than the myocyte.