Does telomere length mediate associations between inbreeding and increased risk for bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia?

We have recently found that consanguinity is a risk factor for bipolar I disorder (BP1) and schizophrenia (SZ) in Egypt. Inbreeding has been associated with increased cellular stress and impaired physiological function in plants and animals. Previous studies have reported that telomere length (TL), an index of oxidative stress and cellular senescence is significantly reduced among patients with SZ or mood disorders compared with control individuals. Hence we evaluated TL as a possible mediator of the observed association between consanguinity and BP1/SZ risk. Patients with BP1 (n = 108), or SZ (n = 60) were compared with screened adult controls in separate experiments. TL was estimated using a quantitative PCR (qPCR) based assay. The inbreeding coefficient/consanguinity rate was estimated in two ways: using 64 DNA polymorphisms (‘DNA-based’ rate); and from family history data (‘self report’). Significant correlation between TL and DNA based inbreeding was not observed overall, though suggestive trends were present among the SZ cases. No significant case-control differences in TL were found after controlling for demographic variables. In conclusion, reduced TL may not explain a significant proportion of observed associations between consanguinity and risk for BP1/SZ.     

Nested polymerase chain reaction for early diagnosis of typhoid fever

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of S. typhi is essential for early diagnosis. This was a study to prospectively evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the S. typhi using flagellin gene related primers. The study was carried out in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh between July, 2010 and June, 2011, including 82 individuals of different age and sex. Of them, 62 were clinically suspected cases of typhoid fever and remaining 20 were apparently healthy controls. Cultures as well as PCR of blood specimens were performed for each of the cases. Among the 62 suspected typhoid fever cases, 8(12.9%) were blood culture positive and 55(88.7%) were PCR positive for S. typhi. All culture positive cases were positive by PCR and among 54 culture negative cases, 47(87%) were positive by PCR. Neither of the healthy controls was positive by PCR or blood culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PCR using blood culture as gold standard were 88.7%, 100%, 100% and 74% respectively for typhoid fever. In this study, the PCR appears highly specific, very sensitive and superior to blood culture for the early diagnosis of typhoid fever.     

The Effect of Elevated Protein Intake on DNA Damage in Older People: Comparative Secondary Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials

A high protein intake at old age is important for muscle protein synthesis, however, this could also trigger protein oxidation with the potential risk for DNA damage. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an increased protein intake at recommended level or well above would affect DNA damage or change levels of reduced (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) in community-dwelling elderly subjects. These analyses were performed in two randomized intervention studies, in Austria and in New Zealand. In both randomized control trials, the mean protein intake was increased with whole foods, in the New Zealand study (n = 29 males, 74.2 ± 3.6 years) to 1.7 g/kg body weight/d (10 weeks intervention; p < 0.001)) in the Austrian study (n = 119 males and females, 72.9 ± 4.8 years) to 1.54 g/kg body weight/d (6 weeks intervention; p < 0.001)). In both studies, single and double strand breaks and as formamidopyrimidine—DNA glycosylase-sensitive sites were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or whole blood. Further, resistance to H₂O₂ induced DNA damage, GSH, GSSG and CRP were measured. Increased dietary protein intake did not impact on DNA damage markers and GSH/GSSG levels. A seasonal-based time effect (p < 0.05), which led to a decrease in DNA damage and GSH was observed in the Austrian study. Therefore, increasing the protein intake to more than 20% of the total energy intake in community-dwelling seniors in Austria and New Zealand did not increase measures of DNA damage, change glutathione status or elevate plasma CRP.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a private community setting.

In order to evaluate early results and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in community hospitals, the charts of 380 consecutive patients, scheduled between February 8 and November 28, 1990, were reviewed. There were 294 women and 86 men, with a mean age of 48 years. Forty-one patients required conversion to open cholecystectomy, for reasons including adhesions in 18 patients, intraductal filling defects in 11, marked inflammation in 6, excessive bleeding in 3, poor visualization of the operative field in 2, and gangrenous gallbladder in 1. Hospital stay (excluding patients converted to laparotomy) ranged from 0.29-18 days, with a mean of 1.4 days. Operative time ranged from 29-280 min, with a mean of 114 min. Cystic duct operative cholangiography was performed in 71% of patients. In 29%, operative cholangiography was either not performed at all or was attempted and unsuccessful, due to inability to cannulate the cystic duct. Procedure-related morbidity was 2.6%, which includes three common bile duct injuries, three intraabdominal abscesses requiring drainage, and one pneumonia. There was one death resulting from respiratory failure. Our results compare favorably with those reported in the literature. We conclude that laparoscopic cholecystectomy in community hospitals is a safe procedure in properly selected patients.     

Role of elective brain irradiation during combined chemoradiotherapy for limited disease non-small cell lung cancer

Summary We have studied the clinical impact of elective brain irradiation (EBI) in patients with locally advanced, non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSC). All patients received combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide +doxorubicin (Adriamycin) + cisplatin = CAP) or CAP plus radiotherapy as the initial treatment for their active tumor or as an adjuvant therapy. Of 97 evaluable patients, 46 were randomized to receive EBI (3 000 rad in 10 fractions given over two weeks). The characteristics of both groups were comparable by sex, age, performance status, pretherapy weight loss, histologic cell type, clinical staging, and type of prior therapy. EBI significantly decreased the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis in the treated group compared to the control group (4% vs 27%, p =.002). CNS involvement occurred in the treated group after failure at other sites whereas 12 of 14 control patients had CNS metastases as the first site of relapse.EBI decreased the incidence of CNS metastasis in all prognostic categories. Using multivariate analysis, the beneficial effect was shown to be significant in females, patients with good performance status, weight loss less than 6%, squamous cell histology, state III disease or no prior therapy. EBI significantly increased CNS metastasis-free interval with a beneficial effect that was significant in males, patients with weight loss less than 6%, squamous cell histology or responders. Although no survival benefit was observed for the treated group because of the adverse effect from other relapses, EBI will become more important as better treatment programs are developed. Our study, as well as others, revealed the high incidence of CNS metastasis in LA-NSC patients with no other evidence of disease. EBI should be considered as another adjuvant treatment along with other therapies in this group of patients.Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 1982.Supported in part by Grant CA 05831 Project 9A from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, USPHS, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland and by Bristol Laboratories, Syracuse, New York.     

Is nasogastric intubation necessary in colon operations?

Fifty-six patients undergoing elective colonic resection were prospectively randomized into two groups either with or without postoperative nasogastric decompression. The results demonstrated only minimal differences between the two groups. Postoperative abdominal distention was more common in patients without nasogastric tubes, whereas pulmonary complications were more common in patients with nasogastric tubes. Other morbidity and mortality and hospital stay were the same in both groups. We conclude that in elective colon operations, the routine use of postoperative nasogastric decompression is unnecessary and can safely be omitted.     

Rupture of the bronchus: Case report of successful resection and anastomosis in a 13-month-old infant

An unusual case of rupture of the bronchus in a 13-month-old child is reported. It is believed that this is the youngest reported case of successful repair and it is documented by an 11-year follow-up.