Head and neck paragangliomas: a clinicopathologic study with DNA flow cytometric analysis

A total of 11 head and neck paragangliomas were the subject of pathologic study, including histologic, immunohistochemical, and DNA flow cytometric analyses. We cannot absolutely predict aggressive clinical behavior using histologic parameters alone, but we can use such parameters to segregate patients into low-risk and high-risk groups. Several trends were observed in the current study. Tumors with higher S-phase fractions, G2/M fractions, or aneuploid cell populations tended to behave "aggressively." The presence of sustentacular cells in the primary tumors cannot be used as an absolute indicator of tumor metastatic potential, as two metastatic paragangliomas in this study contained sustentacular cells in both the primary and metastatic lesions. DNA ploidy status cannot be used as an absolute prognostic parameter as the two metastatic tumors were composed of diploid primary and metastatic lesions. The three tumors with aneuploid cell populations showed "aggressive" histologic and clinical features, but the length of the follow-up period for these cases is too limited to draw any conclusions. Although no absolute criteria can be used at present to gauge aggressiveness, close follow-up of these patients is essential, especially if pathologic findings suggest an "aggressive" course (ie, "malignant" histology, higher S-phase fractions, G2/M fractions, aneuploid cell populations, or decreased sustentacular cell density).     

Effects of dextran and pentoxifylline on hemorrhagic shock-induced P-selectin expression

BACKGROUND: Dextran and pentoxifylline have been shown to prevent leukocyte-endothelium adherence encountered after hemorrhagic shock. P-Selectin is the first endothelial cell adhesion molecule to be upregulated after an ischemic insult. We investigated the effects of resuscitation with dextran 70 and administration of pentoxifylline during resuscitation on hemorrhagic shock-induced P-selectin expression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hemorrhagic shock was induced in C57BL/6 mice by withdrawing blood to reduce mean arterial blood pressure to 30 mm Hg for 45 min. Animals were resuscitated by infusing one of the following solutions (each n:5): (1) Ringer's lactate, (2) 6% dextran 70, (3) Ringer's lactate plus 50 mg/kg pentoxifylline, (4) 5% human albumin. Afterward shed blood was infused. In vivo P-selectin expression was determined using dual-radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique in lung, heart, liver, kidney, mesentery, stomach, small bowel, and colon 5 h after resuscitation. RESULTS: P-Selectin was significantly upregulated in all of the organs studied in the Ringer's lactate resuscitation group (P < 0.001). Resuscitation with dextran 70 and administration of pentoxifylline during resuscitation prevented P-selectin upregulation. Resuscitation with human albumin caused significant attenuation but could not prevent P-selectin upregulation (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study implies that the prevention of hemorrhagic shock-induced leukocyte-endothelium adherence by dextran 70 and pentoxifylline observed in other studies may be mediated by prevention of P-selectin expression by these agents.     

Measuring developmental and functional status in children with disabilities

This study compared performance on the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), the Battelle Developmental Inventory Screening Test (BDIST), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) in children with developmental disabilities. The three instruments were administered to 205 children with identified disabilities. All 205 children were tested using the WeeFIM instrument. The BDIST was administered to 101 children and the VABS to the remaining 104 children. Administration was counterbalanced and randomized across all three instruments. A proportional sampling plan was used to select the 205 children, who ranged in age from 11 to 87 months. A variety of medical diagnoses and levels of severity of motor, cognitive, and communication impairments were systematically included in the sample. Correlations (r) among subscales for all three instruments ranged from 0.42 to 0.92. Correlations for total scores ranged from 0.72 to 0.94. Analyses of potential moderator variables found no significant relation between age and severity of disability (r=0.05) or between socioeconomic status (SES) and severity of disability (r=0.21). Correlations with age were strongest for those subscale scores involving gross and fine motor skills. Correlations with SES and subscale scores ranged from 0.03 to 0.18. The three instruments provide important information regarding childhood performance in motor, self-care, communicative, cognitive, and social skills. The WeeFIM instrument requires less administration time and provides information directly relevant to evaluating functional outcomes for children with disabilities and their families.     

The discovery of haloperidol

Haloperidol was synthesized on the 11th of February 1958 by Bert Hermans at the Janssen Laboratories, Beerse, Belgium. Simple but ingenuous methods of animal pharmacology suggested to Paul Janssen and his collegues that this butyrophenone derivative, called R1625, then halop-peridol, would be of great interest: qualitatively, the pharmacological action of R1625 was similar to chlorpromazine, but R1625 was very more powerful since it produced effects with much smaller doses than chlorpromazine. Soon after the synthesis and animal studies, haloperidol was administered in humans by Divry, Bobon et Collard, psychiatrists at the Liege Hospital. The first clinical publication, on the 28th of October, 1958, described the effects of haloperidol in agitation states. The subsequent clinical studies, including those of the prestigious French school of Sainte-Anne hospital, confirmed that haloperidol belongs to the pharmacological family of neuroleptics, as it was defined by J. Delay and P. Deniker in 1955. These clinical studies demonstrated also that haloperidol was particularly active against delusions and hallucinations. Numbers of chronically inpatients were able to leave hospital and to live home thanks to this new drug, which remains one of the more prescribed neuroleptics 40 years after its discovery.     

Corticotropin-releasing hormone and cortisol: longitudinal associations with depression and antisocial behavior in pregnant adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To examine the concurrent and longitudinal associations between corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol concentrations and depression and antisocial behavior (conduct disorder symptoms) in pregnant adolescents. METHOD: Fifty-nine adolescents were evaluated in early pregnancy (9-21 weeks' gestation), late pregnancy (32-34 weeks' gestation), and the postpartum period (4-5 weeks postpartum). Symptoms of depression and conduct disorder were obtained from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. RESULTS: Lower concentrations of CRH were related to a greater number of depression symptoms in early pregnancy (p < .05) and in late pregnancy (p < .05). Lower concentrations of CRH also were related to a greater number of conduct disorder symptoms in early pregnancy (p < .06) and in the postpartum period (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The findings support the long-standing hypothesis that stress-related products of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are associated with emotions and behavior during pregnancy.     

Granulomatous mastitis secondary to histoplasmosis: report of a case diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

A case of unilateral histoplasmal "granulomatous" mastitis diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is presented. The clinical presentation and mammographic findings were strongly suspicious for carcinoma. FNAB cytology showed a picture of necrotizing granuloma secondary to histoplasmosis. The lesion was treated with surgical excision and appropriate antifungal therapy. The differential diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis is discussed.     

Peritonsillar abscess – critical analysis of abscess tonsillectomy

The risk of secondary haemorrhage following abscess tonsillectomy is reported in the literature with differing rates. A retro‐ and prospective analysis of complication rates following abscess tonsillectomy was conducted in 142 patients (54 females, 88 males; mean age: 35 years). In 22% of patients, a secondary haemorrhage occurred. In half of these (11% of total), the haemorrhage had to be treated surgically. Secondary haemorrhage occurred most commonly on the 6th and 8th postoperative days. Reports in the literature are not in unison about the risk of secondary haemorrhage following abscess tonsillectomy and therefore allow no final judgement about an objective risk of this complication. This report strengthens the results of the ‘Comparative Audit Service’ analysis from 1997, which did show a high risk of secondary haemorrhage following tonsillectomy, as well as following abscess tonsillectomy.