Quantification and characterization of aortic cholesterol in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet

Determination of fat percentage of aortic intimal area stained by Sudan III is useful as an index of atherosclerosis in the rabbit animal model. However, the determination of sudanophilic area of the thoracic aorta is two-dimensional and does not measure the third dimension of depth. The objective of the present study was to quantify and characterize aortic lipids using the gas–liquid chromatographic (GLC) technique and to determine whether elevated measurements of total cholesterol and cholesteryl esters was correlated with increased measurements of sudanophilic area staining of the thoracic aorta in rabbits given either a normal chow or a 1% cholesterol diet. The GLC results showed that there was a mean accumulation of 10.9 mg of cholesterol per gram of aortic tissue in the rabbits given a cholesterol diet (mean sudanophilic area of 23.8%). In contrast, rabbits on a normal chow diet had only a deposition of 0.58 mg of cholesterol per gram of the aortic tissue diet (mean sudanophilic area of 1.4%). The present study suggests that quantification of the aortic lipids can be performed by using GLC techniques and that it could be used as an alternative to the measurement of sudanophilic area when assessing the severity of atherosclerosis.     

Management of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer: An overview for the pediatric oncologist

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most common childhood thyroid malignancy. The standard of care for pediatric DTC is total thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment when indicated. Molecular changes and potential therapeutic targets have been recently described in pediatric thyroid cancer. Pediatric oncologists are increasingly involved in the evaluation of thyroid nodules in childhood cancer survivors and in the management of advanced thyroid cancer. In 2015, the American Thyroid Association published management guidelines for children with DTC. We provide an overview of the current standard of care and highlight available targeted therapies for progressive or RAI refractory DTC.     

Initial UK experience of the levonorgestrel-releasing contraceptive intravaginal ring

A study was performed to establish the tolerance, acceptability and associated efficacy of a levonorgestrel-releasing intravaginal ring (IVR) in a sample of British women requiring contraception. This was achieved with an open non-randomized prospective study of 1710 women aged 18-40 years, recruited in 75 centers geographically spread around the UK using an IVR designed to release 20 g/day of levonorgestrel. Assessments were made at baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months and then 3-monthly. After initial insertion of the IVR, it was changed at 3-monthly intervals. A total of 1591 women were eligible for analysis, with 572 available after 12 months and 34 after 24 months of use. Life-table analysis revealed pregnancy rates of 5.1% and 6.5% at 12 months and 24 months, respectively. The IVR was rated as acceptable or very acceptable as a form of contraceptive by 60.7% of women at 12 months. The most common adverse events were menstrual disturbance, headache and vaginal discharge. No significant pattern of biochemical, hematological, microbiological or cytological abnormalities was found but vaginal erythematous lesions were noted at some centers. This IVR was found to be a generally well-accepted method of contraception with a failure rate comparable to some other progestogen-only methods. On this basis, further development of hormone-releasing intravaginal rings is justified.     

Infant feeding fractices within white and Asian Communities in inner-city Leeds

A structured questionnaire was devised in order to ascertain infant feeding practices. Multi-lingual interviewers visited the homes of 127 Caucasian and 184 Asian families with infants aged 6–24 months, in inner-city Leeds. The Asian families interviewed were from four-defined communities; Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Punjabis and Gujaratis.
When compared with asian mothers, Caucasian mothers were more likely to breast-feed, and demonstrated a more positive approach to their chosen feeding pattern whether breast or bottle. Few differences in feeding practices were noted between the distinct Asian groups despite inter-group variations in English language ability, family size and duration of residence in Britain. Most of the Asian infants were still drinking from a feeding bottle at the age of 2 years, and two-thirds of the milk feeds were sweetened. In contrast, the majority of white Caucasian infants were no longer using a feeding bottle at 12 months of age, although one-third drank milk swetened, The mothers interviewed claimed that health professionals had advised them to add items to the milk, and to use vitamin fruit juices.
The feeding practices reported have clear implications for dental health, particularly among the Asain children. There is an urgent need for effective health education initiatives by health advisers based on a thorough evaluation of cultural differences in attitudes and practices     

Surgical treament of lateral skull base tumours

Tumours of retrolabyrinthine and base of skull are perhaps dealt best by using the Fisch’s technique with minimal marbidity. The classical Fisch technique may be modified depending upon the type and extent of the tumour as seen in our case no 4. This technique has definite advantage over the others in adequate visualization and management of these tumours which often encroaches upon the internal carotid artery and the great venous sinuses. Review of the available literature fails to show any similar experience an this technique in management of lateral skull base tumours in this part of our country.     

The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor glycine site antagonist ACEA 1021 does not produce pathological changes in rat brain

ACEA 1021 is a potent, selective N-methyl-

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-aspartate (NMDA) receptor glycine site antagonist under clinical evaluation as a neuroprotectant for stroke and head trauma. The potential of ACEA 1021 to produce morphologic changes in cerebrocortical neurons of the rat was assessed since it is known that noncompetitive (e.g., MK-801) and competitive (e.g., CGS 19755) NMDA receptor antagonists produce neuronal vacuolization and necrosis in the rat posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex. Male and female adult rats were treated intravenously with either vehicle (Tris) or 10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg ACEA 1021. MK-801 (5 mg/kg, s.c.) served as positive control. Whereas MK-801 produced characteristic neuronal vacuolization and necrosis in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, neither dose of ACEA 1021 had any effect on neuronal morphology. The absence of neuropathological changes in rats supports the further clinical evaluation of ACEA 1021 for stroke and head trauma, and suggests that glycine site antagonists may be devoid of neurotoxic potential.