Cervical carcinoma antigen: distribution in neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix and comparison to other tumor markers

Four antibodies (anti-CCA, anti-CEA, Ca-l, and anti-EMA) were used to study the distribution of antibody-binding sites in normal endocervical mucosa, metaplastic squamous epithelium, squamous epithelium exhibiting varying grades of intraepithelial neoplasia, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Anti-CCA, a novel monoclonal antibody raised against an extract of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, recognizes dysplastic, neoplastic, and metaplastic cervical epithelial cells. While anti-CCA and Ca-l rarely stained normal glandular epithelium, 31.4 and 45.7% of the samples stained positively for CEA and EMA, respectively. There did not appear to be significant differences between anti-CCA and the other antibodies in the frequency with which neoplastic conditions were stained. Based upon these observations, it appears that none of the antibodies tested can be regarded as a specific tumor marker.     

Early osteolysis associated with trunion-liner impingement

Osteolysis is perhaps the biggest unsolved problem in joint arthroplasty. Many factors contribute to osteolysis, some of which cannot be controlled. It is imperative to minimize controllable factors contributing to osteolysis whenever possible. We report four cases of trunion impingement on an elevated rim liner, which may have contributed to early aggressive osteolysis. Although the use of an elevated liner may result in a lower incidence of postoperative instability, the trade-off in using such a device must be understood.     

Endocrine factors and postpartum depression. A selected review

This review examines proposed endocrine-based etiologies of postpartum depression (PPD) and how knowledge of these etiologies may affect future treatments. It is based on a review of papers shedding light on the etiology of PPD with special emphasis on research into endocrine-related depression. A picture of PPD is starting to emerge that suggests a variety of endocrine root causes as well as psychosocial risk factors. Hormones reviewed include progesterone, estradiol and estriol, cortisol, corticotropin-releasing hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and triiodothyronine/thyroxine. Other substances examined include 3 antithyroid autoantibodies. Better understanding of the physiologic bases for depressive symptoms may lead to correction of the underlying pathology of PPD rather than treatment of symptoms.     

Uptime normative values in children aged 8 to 15 years

The 'Uptimer' is a custom-made lightweight battery-operated remote activity monitor that records the amount of time an individual spends in the upright position, which is also known as 'uptime'. The aims of this study were to determine levels of uptime over 24 hours and the relation between uptime and a child's age, sex, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Uptime was recorded in 529 normally developing children (318 females, 211 males), aged between 8 and 15 years. All children wore an Uptimer continuously for a 24-hour period that included a typical school day. Mean uptime for children in this study was 5.4 hours (SD 1.3; range 1.5 to 10.3 hours), over a 24-hour period. Uptime followed approximately a normal distribution in this population and did not have a linear relation to age, height, weight, nor BMI. Results of this study may be used as a normative database for the evaluation of uptime in children with physical disabilities.     

The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: II. Mechanism of action and in vitro toxicity

OBJECTIVES: Recent testimonials report grapefruit-seed extract, or GSE (Citricidal) to be effective against more than 800 bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single and multicelled parasites. This study investigated GSE for antibacterial activity at varying time intervals and concentration levels and tissue toxicity at varying concentrations in an effort to determine if a concentration existed that was both microbicidal and nontoxic and in what period of time. DESIGN: Gram-negative and gram-positive isolates were introduced into graduated dilutions of GSE (twofold concentrations ranging from 1:1, through 1:512) for determination of bacterial activity. In vitro assays with human skin fibroblast cells were also performed at the same dilutions to determine toxicity. RESULTS: These tests indicated that from the 1:1 through the 1:128 concentrations, GSE remained toxic as well as bactericidal. However, test results indicated that at the 1:512 dilution, GSE remained bactericidal, but completely nontoxic. CONCLUSIONS: The initial data shows GSE to have antimicrobial properties against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms at dilutions found to be safe. With the aid of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), the mechanism of GSE's antibacterial activity was revealed. It was evident that GSE disrupts the bacterial membrane and liberates the cytoplasmic contents within 15 minutes after contact even at more dilute concentrations.     

The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: I. An in vitro agar assay

OBJECTIVES: Grapefruit-seed extract (GSE) Citricidal has, in recent reports, been reported to be successful in combating a variety of common infectious agents. In our study, drops of concentrated grapefruit-seed extract were tested for antibacterial properties against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. DESIGN: Sixty-seven (67) distinct biotypes were tested for their susceptibilities to the GSE as well as to 5 other topical antibacterials (Silvadene, Sulfamylon, Bactroban, Nitrofurazone, and Silvadene, Nystatin). Wells were punched into Mueller-Hinton agar plates, which were then inoculated with the organism to be tested; each well was then inoculated with one of the antibacterial agents. After an overnight incubation period, the plates were checked for zones of bacterial susceptibility around the individual wells, with a measured susceptibility zone diameter of 10 mm or more considered a positive result. RESULTS: The GSE was consistently antibacterial against all of the biotypes tested, with susceptibility zone diameters equal to or greater than 15 mm in each case. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data thus suggest an antibacterial characteristic to GSE that is comparable to that of proven topical antibacterials. Although the GSE appeared to have a somewhat greater inhibitory effect on gram-positive organisms than on gram-negative organisms, its comparative effectiveness against a wide range of bacterial biotypes is significant.     

Peripheral multineuritis pointing at systemic sarcoidosis

We report a patient with a peripheral neuropathy as the first symptom of sarcoidosis. The systemic illness was proved by the presence of typic granulomes in the bone marrow. The fact that sarcoidosis is the cause for the neuropathy is supported by the temporary relation and by the good response of all clinical picture to the corticosteroid therapy.Sarcoid neuropathy can rarely be the presenting feature of sarcoidosis.     

Actuarial survival in the premature infant less than 30 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVE: Because survival from admission to discharge does not provide parents and physicians information about future life expectancy in the premature neonate, we characterized the actuarial survival, defined as the future life expectancy from a given postnatal age, in a large inborn population of premature infants < 30 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: We determined daily actuarial survival of 1925 inborn infants (23 to 29 weeks' gestation) admitted to the Baylor Affiliated Nurseries from July 1986 through December 1994, stratified by 100-g birth weight and by 1-week gestational-age intervals. RESULTS: In the 501- to 600-g birth weight stratum, actuarial survival improved from 31% at birth, to 61% on day of life 7, and then to 75% on day of life 28; in the 901- to 1000-g birth weight stratum, actuarial survival improved from 88%, to 94%, and then to 98% throughout the same times, respectively. Similar trends were obtained when data were stratified by gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Survival in the smallest infants improves dramatically during the first few days of life, but there is a significant risk for late death in the smallest of these infants.     

The efficacy of the ketogenic diet-1998: a prospective evaluation of intervention in 150 children

OBJECTIVE: The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet developed in the 1920s for the treatment of children with difficult to control seizures. Despite advances in both the pharmacotherapy and the surgery of epilepsy, many children continue to have difficult-to-control seizures. This prospective study sought to determine the ketogenic diet's effectiveness and tolerability in children refractory to today's medications. METHODS: One hundred fifty consecutive children, ages 1 to 16 years, virtually all of whom continued to have more than two seizures per week despite adequate therapy with at least two anticonvulsant medications, were prospectively enrolled in this study, treated with the ketogenic diet, and followed for a minimum of 1 year. Seizure frequency was tabulated from patients' daily seizure calendars and seizure reduction calculated as percentage of baseline frequency. Adverse events and reasons for diet discontinuation were recorded. RESULTS: The children (mean age, 5.3 years), averaged 410 seizures per month before the diet, despite an exposure to a mean of 6.2 antiepileptic medications. Three months after diet initiation, 83% of those starting remained on the diet and 34% had >90% decrease in seizures. At 6 months, 71% still remained on the diet and 32% had a >90% decrease in seizures. At 1 year, 55% remained on the diet and 27% had a >90% decrease in seizure frequency. Most of those discontinuing the diet did so because it was either insufficiently effective or too restrictive. Seven percent stopped because of intercurrent illness. CONCLUSIONS: The ketogenic diet should be considered as alternative therapy for children with difficult-to-control seizures. It is more effective than many of the new anticonvulsant medications and is well tolerated by children and families when it is effective.