Screening of the antiradical action of vegetable oils

Information on radical scavenging activity (RSA) and antioxidant potential of vegetable oils are not reported, or reporting has been rather limited. Such data is of importance for the evaluation of nutritional and health impact of these oils. The main objective of this short study was to compare the antiradical performance of some common and unusual vegetable oils. The described arrangement for our simple experiment uses the addition of stable radicals 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) to vegetable oils, which are decomposed by components having antioxidant properties. The order of effectiveness of oils in inhibiting free radicals was as follows: coriander>blackcumin>cottonseed>peanut>sunflower>walnut>hemp seed>linseed>olive>niger seed. This initial survey might serve as a springboard for future research into this area.     

Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in urban southern African blacks.

Our purpose was to ascertain whether alcohol abuse is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in urban southern Africa blacks and, if so, to relate alcohol consumption to other possible risk factors such as persistent hepatitis-B-virus infection, smoking, male sex, in this subpopulation. A prospective, hospital-based, case-control format involving 101 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 101 controls was used. The mean age of the patients was 53.7 +/- 1.85 years and the male:female ratio 3.2:1. An increased risk was found, but only in urban men over the age of 40 years who habitually drank more than 80 g of ethanol daily. The risk remained after adjusting for chronic hepatitis-B infection, smoking, and sex (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 16.6; p = 0.003). Smoking proved not to be a risk factor, either alone or in concert with alcohol consumption. Hepatitis-B infection was confirmed as a major risk in younger men and in women, but in urban men over the age of 40 years alcohol abuse was a greater risk. Current hepatitis-B infection and alcohol abuse were additive risks.     

Laparoscopic flip-flap technique versus conventional inguinal hernia repair in children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed pediatric surgical operations. Several pediatric laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair techniques have been introduced. But debate is unresolved regarding the feasibility of laparoscopy for treating pediatric inguinal hernias. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study enrolled 33 patients who underwent congenital inguinal hernia repair by either the new laparoscopic flip-flap technique or conventional open repair. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of surgery: Group A included those who underwent the new laparoscopic technique, and Group B included those who underwent conventional open repair. RESULTS: Group A comprised 15 patients (mean age, 39 months), and group B comprised 18 (mean age, 44 months). Mean operative time was 47.5 minutes for Group A versus 27.5 minutes for Group B. Intraoperative complications for Group A included 1 case (7%) of vas deferens injury, and 3 cases (20%) in which the flaps were torn during suturing. In Group B, no intraoperative complications were encountered. In both groups, the mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.5 hours. Postoperative follow-up of 3 months revealed recurrence in 4 patients in Group A (27%), while there were no recurrences in Group B. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary experience shows unsatisfactory outcomes with laparoscopic flip-flap hernia repair in children. In spite of advancement in the application of laparoscopy in pediatric surgery, conventional open hernia repair is still the gold standard for children, in our experience. Future studies with more numbers and longterm follow-up should be conducted.     

Mechanisms of Tolerance Induced by Donor-Specific Transfusion and ICOS-B7h Blockade in a Model of CD4+ T-Cell-Mediated Allograft Rejection

The inducible co-stimulatory molecule (ICOS) has been shown to play a critical role in T-cell activation and differentiation, and the regulation of alloimmune responses in vivo. Using an MHC class II mismatched model of CD4(+) T-cell-mediated rejection, we found that treatment of mice with DST and ICOS-B7h blockade induced long-term skin allograft survival and donor-specific transplantation tolerance. ICOS blockade, either during antigen priming or during the effector phase, previously shown to alter the outcome of the immune response, had a similar effect on graft survival. DST and anti-B7h mAb reduced the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing allospecific cells but did not produce deviation to a T(H)2 phenotype. In an adoptive transfer model using ABM TCR transgenic mice directly reactive to I-A(bm12), DST and anti-B7h mAb reduced the number of allospecific CD4(+) T cells and increased CD4(+) T-cell apoptosis. These data demonstrate that DST and anti-B7h mAb induces transplantation tolerance to MHC class II mismatched skin grafts by a reduction of the alloreactive clone size that is, at least in part, dependent on apoptosis of host alloantigen-specific CD4(+) T cells.     

Noninvasive measurement of systemic vascular resistance using Doppler echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is an integral therapeutic component of patients with heart failure and shock. We hypothesized that the ratio of the peak mitral regurgitant velocity (MRV) (m/s) to left ventricular outflow time-velocity integral (TVI(LVOT)) (cm) by Doppler would provide a noninvasive correlate of SVR. METHODS: SVR was correlated to MRV/TVI(LVOT) in 33 patients undergoing right heart catheterization. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to determine the best-balanced sensitivity and specificity to identify SVR > 14 Wood units (WU) and <10 WU. RESULTS: MRV/TVI(LVOT) correlated well with SVR (r = 0.842, 95% confidence interval 0.7-0.92, P <.001, Y = 0.459 + 49.397*X). By receiver operating characteristics, MRV/TVI(LVOT) > 0.27 had a 70% sensitivity and a 77% specificity to identify SVR > 14 WU. MRV/TVI(LVOT) < 0.2 had a 92% sensitivity and a 88% specificity to identify SVR < 10 WU. CONCLUSION: Doppler echocardiography provides a reliable noninvasive assessment of SVR.     

Bench-to-bedside review: Resuscitation in the emergency department

Over the past decade the practice of acute resuscitation and its monitoring have undergone significant changes. Utilization of noninvasive mechanical ventilation, goal-directed therapy, restricted fluid volume, blood transfusion and minimally invasive technology for monitoring tissue oxygenation have changed the practice of acute resuscitation. Early diagnosis and definitive treatment of the underlying cause of shock remains the mainstay for survival after successful resuscitation. Patient-centered outcome end-points, in addition to survival, are being utilized to appraise the effectiveness of treatment. Application of medical ethics to the ever changing practice of acute resuscitation has also become a societal expectation.     

The Role of Donor Bone Marrow Infusions in Withdrawal of Immunosuppression in Adult Liver Allotransplantation

We investigated the role of donor bone marrow cell (DBMC) infusions in immunosuppression withdrawal in adult liver transplantation. Patients enrolled were at least 3 years post-transplantation, with stable graft function. Forty-five (study group: G1) received DBMC, and 59 (control group: G2) did not. Immunosuppression was reduced by one third upon enrollment, by another third the second year of the study and was completely withdrawn the third year. Patient and graft survival were similar between the two groups. Although rejection episodes were significantly less in G1 the first 2 years of the study (35% vs. 57%, p = 0.016), there was no significant difference overall (74% vs. 81%, p = 0.14). Until February 2004, 20 patients, 10 in each group, were immunosuppression free for 1-3 years. Approximately 20% of long-term survivors of liver transplantation can successfully discontinue their immunosuppression. DBMC infusions, do not increase this likelihood.