Chemical Nature of the Interaction between Macrophage Fusion Factor and Macrophage Membranes

Giant-cell formation induced by macrophage fusion factor (MFF) was not altered after pretreatment of macrophages with trypsin, chymotrypsin, pronase, neuraminidase, phospholipase C, or phospholipase D. Pretreatment of macrophages with either alpha-mannosidase or alpha-glucosidase completely inhibited giant-cell development, without altering macrophage viability. No alteration of giant-cell formation was observed when 0.1 M of L-fucose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, D-arabinose, D-xylose, melibiose, D-glucose, D-galactose, alpha-lactose, sucrose, D-fructose, or maltose was present during incubation of macrophages with MFF. Giant-cell formation was abolished when 0.1 M alpha-D-mannose was present during macrophage incubation with MFF. These results suggest that the protein moiety of MFF recognizes a specific receptor site on the macrophage membrane, one that is different from those described for other lymphokines and contains alpha-mannose.     

Multiple sclerosis: gadolinium enhancement in MR imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) images--both nonenhanced and enhanced with gadolinium DTPA/dimeglumine (Gd)--were compared with high-iodine (88.1 g I) computed tomographic (HICT) scans in demonstrating lesions in 15 patients known to have multiple sclerosis (MS). T1-weighted, mixed (T1, proton density, and T2), and T2-weighted MR pulse sequences were used. More than 20 lesions in each of 14 patients were demonstrated by pre-Gd mixed images and T2WI. Nine patients had clinical symptoms of active disease. Gd-enhanced T1WI showed at least one lesion that appeared to correspond with newly reported symptoms or signs. In addition, three clinically stable patients showed enhancement. Enhancement was best seen on 3-minute T1WI. HICT scans showed enhancement in four of the nine patients with active disease and in none of five clinically stable patients. Gd-enhanced MR imaging appears to be more sensitive than HICT in the detection of the transient abnormalities of the blood-brain barrier that occur in patients with active MS and appears capable of distinguishing active lesions that may correspond to the anatomic regions responsible for abnormal clinical findings.     

Gamma Probe Radioguided Parathyroid Forearm Surgery in Recurrent Hyperparathyroidism

A case is described of a successful radioguided forearm graft parathyroidectomy. This is the first report of both pre-operative diagnostic and successful intra-operative localisation during a single procedure, of autologous transplanted parathyroid tissue.     

Side-effects of long-term prostaglandin E1 treatment in neonates

BACKGROUND: In some neonates suffering from ductus arteriosus dependent congenital heart defect, a Prostaglandin E(1) (PGE1) therapy longer than 2 weeks may be needed. However, PGE1 analogue compounds may produce several adverse effects. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the data of nine patients who underwent a PGE1 treatment lasting longer than 14 days. RESULTS: The leukocyte count of the patients remained high throughout the treatment period, and the proportion of neutrophils was over 50%. Transient feeding difficulty and abdominal distension, and possible signs of gastric-outlet obstruction, were observed in two cases. In the case of three patients, cortical hyperostosis developed after different cumulative doses (1584, 3384 and 4320 microg). Significant correlations were found between the doses of PGE1 and serum K(+) levels (r=-0.770, P < 0.05) and between the blood standard bicarbonate levels and PGE1 doses (r= 0.889, P < 0.01). Bartter syndrome-like condition developed in those three patients who received the largest cumulative doses. CONCLUSIONS: Fluid-electrolyte parameters must be controlled frequently in the case of each patient treated with PGE1 for longer than 2 weeks. Although the dose, the length of the therapy and individual susceptibility may be equally important, fluid-electrolyte disturbances and the development of pseudo-Bartter syndrome seem to be more dose-dependent than cortical hyperostosis.     

Depressive cardiac reflex elicited by angiographic contrast medium and its inhibition by lidocaine

A depressive cardiac reflex elicited by angiographic contrastmedium was investigated in anesthetized cats. Injection of 1–2ml amidotrizoate (Urografin 76^R) into the aortic root evokedtotal inhibition of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, bradycardiaand decrease of blood pressure. This proved to be a reflex reaction,since it was absent after vagotomy. The same reflex was elicitedby intrapericardial injection of the contrast, indicating itscardiac origin. Hyperosmolic solution of urea was also ableto cause this depressive reaction, whereas injection of thenon-ionic contrast medium metrizamide (Amipaque^R) resulted insignificantly less cardiovascular depression. This indicatesthat the high osmolarity of the dye is the exciting factor forthe reflex. The reflex was dose-dependently and reversibly inhibitedby i.v.-infusion of lidocaine.     

近年来新出现的重症病毒性疾病的诊治进展

近年新出现或认识的一些病毒性疾病,如严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)、禽流感病毒感染、流行性出血热等疾病病例中,有部分病例起病急、病情重、病情发展迅速,可在短时间内危及患者生命。这类病例往往可能被送至急诊室或被收入重症监护病房抢救治疗。但在这些疾病的早期,病原学诊断比较困难或需要较长的时间。因此在实际工作中需要根据临床表现考虑可能的病原学诊断,在积极采取抢救治疗措施的同时,还要注意采取严格的隔离和防护措施,避免将病毒感染传播给其他患儿或医护人员。1 SARSSARS亦称传染性非典型肺炎,是由SARS相关冠状病毒(SARS-…     

Hepatocellular carcinoma in a rapidly growing community: Epidemiology,clinico-pathology and predictors of extrahepatic metastasis

Background and study aims

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with extrahepatic metastasis has been studied, however, data from the Middle East remain scarce. In this study, we assess epidemiology of HCC in Qatar, and identify predictors of the metastatic behaviour.