Prosthetic joint infectionsin the elderly

Total joint arthroplasty is among the most remarkable advances in orthopaedic surgery for the elderly, enabling themto regain physical function and be free of pain. Although uncommon, infection of the prosthetic joint causes serious morbidity leading to poor functional outcome with a mortality approaching 8% in the elderly. Most infections occur through inoculation of the prosthesis at the time of implantation and are due to Gram-positive cocci, although a third of the episodes are due to Gram-negative bacilli from a secondary focus. The management presents a major clinical and therapeutic challenge due to systemic and local comorbid conditions in the elderly. Medical and surgical treatment decisions for infected joint prosthesis are complex and should be individualized in each case. Optimal nutrition is essential for a successful outcome. Adverse reactions to medications are more common in the elderly due to end organ dysfunction and drug-drug interactions.     

Changes in selected biochemical parameters in the kidney and blood of the fish,Tilapia mossambica (Peters), exposed to heptachlor

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology -     

Atypical mycobacterial infection following blepharoplasty and full-face skin resurfacing with CO2 laser.

BACKGROUND: With the popularity of laser skin resurfacing for the correction of photoaging and the improvement of acne scarring, it is important to note complications that may result from this procedure. Infections must be recognized and treated early, as some can result in permanent local destruction and systemic spread to other body sites. OBJECTIVE: To increase the awareness of an unusual infection that may result from laser resurfacing. METHODS: We report the case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with two symmetrical nodules 1 month after full-face skin resurfacing with CO2 laser. These were found to be abscesses caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum infection. RESULTS: The diagnosis was established following surgical debridement and subsequent culture grown from the exudate. Oral antibiotic treatment guided by organism sensitivity resulted in complete clearance of the infection with no recurrence or sequelae after 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that atypical mycobacterial infections may arise after laser resurfacing procedures, despite proper technique, sterile instrumentation, and appropriate perioperative medications and postoperative wound care. If diagnosed and treated early, this potentially disastrous complication can be cured with no permanent sequelae.     

Modulatory influence of injectable contraceptive steroid medroxyprogesterone acetate on methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix of mouse.

Methylcholanthrene (approximately 300 micrograms) plus beeswax-impregnated thread, when placed inside the canal of the uterine cervix of virgin female adult mice for 30, 60 and 90 days produced cervical tumors in 0.0, 10 and 30% of mice, respectively. Employing this experimental cervical carcinogenesis model system, the present study evaluated the modulatory influence of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on the incidences of precancerous and cancerous lesions in the cervical epithelium as well as on phase I and phase II drug metabolizing enzymes and acid soluble sulfhydryl level in the liver. Intramuscular administration of MPA (50 micrograms every 5th day) to the carcinogen-thread inserted mice for 30, 60 and 90 days produced cervical tumors respectively in 0.0, 13.3 and 60.5% (P less than 0.05) of mice. A significant increase (P less than 0.05) in hyperplasia was also observed in the present study. A significant decrease in cytochrome b5 was found after 30 days.     

Nutrition, health and psychosocial profile of institutionalized children.

A study was undertaken to assess the health, nutrition and psychosocial profile of Institutionalized children in four States--Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal. A sample of 3,822 children from 70 institutions in 6-18 years age group formed the subjects of the study. It was observed that the destitute children were mainly taken care of in three types of institutions, viz, Voluntary, Government Aided and Government run institutions. Calorie deficiency and deficiency of Vitamins and minerals characterized the diets of these children. In general, there was no deficit of protein in their diets. Growth wise, these children were retarded both in height and weight compared to standards. However, they fared better in comparison to their age and sex counterparts in the rural and urban poor. Psychosocial profile of these children indicated that the prevailing environment in the institutions is less conducive for intellectual stimulation but not so for the development of skills of self-help, locomotion, socialization and imagery.     

Immunomodulatory Effects of γ-HCH (Lindane) in Mice

Mice were fed for 24 weeks with three different subtoxic dosages of γ-HCH (0.012, 0.12 and 1.2 mg/kg) mixed in powdered feed. The immunological profile was assessed at an interval of one month during the entire exposure period. Both the cell mediated and humoral components of immunity showed a biphasic response characterized initially by stimulation followed by suppression in a dose dependent manner. However, γ-HCH did not affect the functional properties of peritoneal macrophages. Histological changes in lymphoid organs were in accordance with the biphasic immunomodulatory effects of γ -HCH.     

Chronic ethanol intake may delay the onset of gossypol-induced infertility in the male rat

Summary. Parameters were obtained from the reproductive organs of ethanol-fed, gossypol-treated Sprague Dawley rats. The experimental animals were fed either on a normal (15.17%) or low protein (8.00%) diet. Measurements included reproductive organ weights, seminal characteristics, serum concentration of testosterone and histological, stereological and histomorphometric evaluation of the testis. The testis size, length and diameter of the seminiferous tubule had the least values in the protein-malnourished, gossy-pol-treated rats (3.01±0.26 g, 0.56 ± 0.03 m, 281.34±11.30 μn), in comparison to corresponding animals which had received ethanol simultaneously with gossypol (3.40 ± 0.25, 0.71±0.06m, 314.42 ± 11.61 μn). As gossypol and ethanol are both associated with reduced reproductive capacity, this unexpected but interesting finding lends support to the hypothesis that either a normal dietary protein or ethanol consumption may modify the action of gossypol on body tissues, including the testis. This effect, presumably mediated through changes caused to the bioavailability of gossypol, modifies its antifertility activity. The present observation further highlights the need to consider the concurrent administration of other drugs, such as alcohol, and the nutritional status in the evaluation of gossypol for various potential uses.     

Inhibition of spontaneous testicular Leydig cell tumor development in F-344 rats by dehydroepiandrosterone.

The incidence of spontaneous Leydig cell tumors of testis is very high in old F-344 rats. We have examined the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone with antimitotic and anticarcinogenic properties, on spontaneous Leydig cell tumorigenesis. Fifteen-week-old male F-344 rats were fed a diet containing DHEA (0.45% w/w) for 84 weeks. At the termination of experiment none of the 13 rats had Leydig cell hyperplasia or Leydig cell tumors. All the eight control rats of comparable age had Leydig cell tumors. These findings suggest that DHEA is a potent inhibitor of spontaneous Leydig cell tumors of testis in aged rats.