Cytopathology of the brain and retina of embryonic surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) exposed to crude oil

In laboratory experiments, surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) embryos were exposed to 54 or 113 ppb of the seawater-accommodated fraction (SWAF) of Cook Inlet crude oil (CICO) for 3 hr per day, beginning 6 days after fertilization. Embryos 21 and 27 days old (just prior to hatching) exposed to CICO were examined for morphological abnormalities. The only tissues that showed morphological changes in both the 21- and 27-day-old CICO-exposed smelt were the forebrain and the neuronal layer of the retina: both contained numerous necrotic neurons. The retinal receptor cells appeared normal in 21-day-old exposed smelt; in contrast, in 27-day-old treated embryos the ellipsoid and myoid regions of the receptor cell inner segments were severely damaged. Further impact from the SWAF of CICO on developing smelt was indicated by a lower hatching success: approximately 10% in the exposed groups as compared to 50% in the controls.     

Successful resuscitation of a patient with ropivacaine-induced asystole after axillary plexus block using lipid infusion

Ropivacaine 1% 40 ml was mistakenly injected as part of an axillary plexus block in an 84-year-old woman. After 15 min the patient complained of dizziness and drowsiness and developed a generalised tonic-clonic seizure followed by an asystolic cardiac arrest. After 10 min of unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a bolus of 100 ml of Intralipid 20% (2 ml.kg(-1)) was administered followed by a continuous infusion of 10 ml.min(-1). After a total dose of 200 ml of Intralipid 20% had been given spontaneous electrical activity and cardiac output was restored. The patient recovered completely. We believe the cardiovascular collapse was secondary to ropivacaine absorption following the accidental overdose. This case shows that lipid infusion may have a beneficial role in cases of local anaesthetic toxicity when conventional resuscitation has been unsuccessful.     

Foreign body in the bladder mimicking nephritis

Cases of foreign bodies in the bladder self-inserted via urethra are not rare in childhood. Urinary tract infection, dysuria, lower abdominal pain, or haematuria with and without pain are common symptoms. We report on a 11-year-old boy with accidentally detected microscopic haematuria, proteinuria and leukocyturia. Because of increasing proteinuria up to 2330 mg/g creatinine and elevated antistreptolysin titre glomerulonephritis was suspected. However, some echogenic material was detected in the bladder by ultrasound. X-ray of the pelvis showed a 30 cm long tube projecting onto the bladder. The boy then admitted having had inserted a plastic tube into the urethra two years ago. The foreign body was removed cystoscopically. Four weeks after cystoscopy erythrocyturia, leucoyturia and proteinuria had disappeared. We state that symptoms of a local inflammation caused by a foreign body in the bladder can imitate the symptoms of nephritis.     

Lendenlordose und Kreuzschmerzen

Zusammenfassung Es werden die mit der Lendenlordose zusammenh?ngenden pathologischen Prozesse im Lenden-Kreuzbereich beschrieben, deren bei weitem h?ufigste sich zwischen den Dornforts?tzen der Lendenwirbel abspielen. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Symptomenkomplex. zu dessen Zustandekommen zwei Komponenten, die Lordose der Lendenwirbels?ule und eine gro?e H?he der Dornforts?tze erforderlich sind. Eine Zunahme der Lordose im Verein mit der H?he der Dornforts?tze kann zur gegenseitigen Berührung der Dorne mit folgender Abschleifung, oft auch Nearthrosenbildung und sekund?rer Arthrosis deformans führen. Für dieses im R?ntgenbild sehr oft zu beobachtende Bild wird der Name “Osteoarthrosis interspinosa” als das Wesentliche treffend und unmi?verst?ndlich vorgeschlagen. Ferner werden Zusammenpressungen von Wirbelbogenteilen mit Abschleifungen und deformierenden Ver?nderungen, gleichfalls infolge vermehrter Lendenlordose, meist auch unter der Voraussetzung einer echten oder unvollst?ndigen Spina bifida occulta beschrieben, auf deren Seltenheit und schwierige Erkennung im R?ntgenbild wird hingewiesen. Die infolge besonderer Inanspruchnahme der letzten Zwischenwirbelscheibe durch die Lordose und die besonders weitgehenden Bewegungskomponenten bedingten deformierenden Ver?nderungen, die nicht selten in diesem Bereich auch zu hinteren, in den Wirbelkanal reichenden Randwülsten Anla? geben und auf diese Weise zu eigentümlichen Beschwerden führen k?nnen, werden erw?hnt. Ebenso das h?ufige Vorkommen von Spondylarthrosis deformans (im Gegensatz zur Spondylosis def.) im untersten Lendenbereich infolge sehr variabler Schiefstellung der letzten Intervertebralgelenke, wodurch diese einer direkten Druckbelastung des Gelenkknorpels ausgesetzt sind, w?hrend die übrigen Intervertebralgelenke vorwiegend Schubbelastung aufweisen, so da? deformierende Prozesse an ihnen überwiegend nur den Knorpel betreffen und gew?hnlich nicht zu Knochenwucherungen führen. Schlie?lich wird das Bild der Fehlgelenkbildung zwischen Spina iliaca post. sup. und Kreuzbein beschrieben, das auch im R?ntgenbild nur schwer erkennbar ist. Es wird ausdrücklich darauf hingewiesen, da? die anatomische und r?ntgenologische Untersuchung vorwiegend morphologische Zustandsbilder aufdecken, deren pathologische Physiologie durch die Klinik erwiesen oder ausgeschlossen werden mu?. Mit 11 Textabbildungen.     

Healthy and Unhealthy Food Prices across Neighborhoods and Their Association with Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Proportion Black/Hispanic

This paper evaluates variation in food prices within and between neighborhoods to improve our understanding of access to healthy foods in urbanized areas and potential economic incentives and barriers to consuming a higher-quality diet. Prices of a selection of healthier foods (dairy, fruit juice, and frozen vegetables) and unhealthy foods (soda, sweets, and salty snacks) were obtained from 1953 supermarkets across the USA during 2009–2012 and were linked to census block group socio-demographics. Analyses evaluated associations between neighborhood SES and proportion Black/Hispanic and the prices of healthier and unhealthy foods, and the relative price of healthier foods compared with unhealthy foods (healthy-to-unhealthy price ratio). Linear hierarchical regression models were used to explore geospatial variation and adjust for confounders. Overall, the price of healthier foods was nearly twice as high as the price of unhealthy foods ($0.590 vs $0.298 per serving; healthy-to-unhealthy price ratio of 1.99). This trend was consistent across all neighborhood characteristics. After adjusting for covariates, no association was found between food prices (healthy, unhealthy, or the healthy-to-unhealthy ratio) and neighborhood SES. Similarly, there was no association between the proportion Black/Hispanic and healthier food price, a very small positive association with unhealthy price, and a modest negative association with the healthy-to-unhealthy ratio. No major differences were seen in food prices across levels of neighborhood SES and proportion Black/Hispanic; however, the price of healthier food was twice as expensive as unhealthy food per serving on average.