Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Severe Thrombocytosis in a Case of Disseminated Abdominal Canine Cryptococcosis

A 7-year-old female cross-breed dog presented with a non-regenerative anaemia. Disseminated intra-abdominal cryptococcosis was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology. Complete blood count and bone marrow cytology revealed microcytic hypochromic iron-deficiency anaemia and severe thrombocytosis (>1 million platelets/ml). Post-mortem examination and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis and revealed multiple organ involvement. Both gastrointestinal lesions and absence of respiratory tract cryptococcal granulomas suggest an oral instead of nasal infection route.     

Do antioxidant micronutrients protect against the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis?

Objective. Cumulative damage to tissues, mediated by reactive oxygen species, has been implicated as a pathway that leads to many of the degenerative changes associated with aging. We hypothesized that increased intake of antioxidant micronutrients might be associated with decreased rates of osteoarthritis (OA) in the knees, a common age-related disorder. Methods. Participants in the Framingham Osteoarthritis Cohort Study underwent knee evaluations by radiography at examinations 18 (1983–1985) and 22 (1992–1993). Usual dietary intake was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire, administered at examination 20 (1988–1989). Knees without OA at baseline (Kellgren and Lawrence [K&L] grade ⩾1) were classified as having incident OA if they had a K&L grade ⩽2 at followup. Knees with OA at baseline were classified as having progressive OA if their score increased by ⩽1 at followup. Knees were also classified as having cartilage loss or osteophyte growth if their maximal joint space narrowing or osteophyte growth score increased by ⩽1 (range 0–3). The association of vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin E intake, ranked in sex-specific tertiles, with incidence and progression of OA was compared with that of a panel of nonantioxidant vitamins, B₁, B₆, niacin, and folate, using logistic regression and generalized estimation equations to adjust for correlation between fellow knees. The lowest tertile for each dietary exposure was used as the referent category. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, weight change, knee injury, physical activity, energy intake, and health status. Results. Six hundred forty participants received complete assessments. Incident and progressive OA occurred in 81 and 68 knees, respectively. We found no significant association of incident OA with any nutrient. A 3-fold reduction in risk of OA progression was found for both the middle tertile (adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.1–0.8) and highest tertile (adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.6) of vitamin C intake. This related predominantly to a reduced risk of cartilage loss (adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8). Those with high vitamin C intake also had a reduced risk of developing knee pain (adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8). A reduction in risk of OA progression was seen for beta carotene (adjusted OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.9) and vitamin E intake (adjusted OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.3–1.6), but was less consistent. No significant associations were observed for the nonantioxidant nutrients. Conclusion. High intake of antioxidant micronutrients, especially vitamin C, may reduce the risk of cartilage loss and disease progression in people with OA. We found no effect of antioxidant nutrients on incident OA. These preliminary findings warrant confirmation.     

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support for the management of catastrophic mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction

Acute papillary muscle rupture and ventricular septal rupture following myocardial infarction are associated with high mortality. We describe the use of cardiopulmonary support to resuscitate two patients, each with one of the above conditions. Early recognition and rapid deployment of CPS were critical to successful outcome. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis, calcium-channel blocking activity, and conformational analysis of some novel 1,4-dihydropyridines: application of PM3 and DFT computational methods

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridines were synthesized and subjected to calcium-channel blocking evaluation and conformational analysis using semi-empirical (PM3) and density functional theory (DFT) as computational methods. All molecules had a boat-like 1,4-dihydropyridine ring in both the methods. In PM3 method almost 54% of the molecules were deviated from planarity, but in DFT method all the molecules had perfect flattened-boat conformation. Using both the methods, the C-4 substituent was pseudoaxial with its phenylamino substitution in sp orientation in 82.14% of the molecules. Trans–trans and cis–cis conformation had the greatest and lowest proportion in the molecules, respectively. Trans–trans conformers which possessed sp conformation for the substituted group on the imidazole ring were active calcium-channel blocking agents.     

2,4-二氨基-5-甲基-6-(N-甲基取代苄氨基)喹唑啉的合成及其抗肿瘤和抗菌作用

This paper reports four methods for the synthesis of 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-(N-methyl-substituted benzyl) aminoquinazolines. Six compounds were synthesized and all these compounds showed good anticancer and antibacterial activities. Among them, I5 showed the strongest inhibition against L1210 Leukemia cell and further research has to be done.     

2,4-二氨基-5-甲基-6-(N-甲基取代苄氨基)喹唑啉的合成及其抗肿瘤和抗菌作用

作者曾报道2,4-二氨基-5-甲基-6-取代苄氨基喹唑啉衍生物有较好的抗疟和抗肿瘤作用。鉴于在2,4-二氨基-6-取代苄氨基喹唑啉的6位侧链氨基上引入甲基,可使抗肿瘤活性明显增强,因此设计合成了一系列2,4-二氨基-5-甲基-6-(N-甲基取     

Imaging of neuropathic arthropathy

Neuropathic arthropathy is a chronic, progressive joint degeneration with bone fragmentation, ligamentous instability, and dislocation. Diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathic arthropathy. Conventional radiography is the most commonly used imaging modality for diagnosing neuropathic arthropathy. The disease is mostly the hypertrophic type and is manifested by sclerosis of the bone, fragmentation, joint destruction, swelling, large joint effusion, and large osteophyte formation. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and radionucleide scintigraphy are helpful for diagnosing the disease and may help in distinguishing neuropathic arthropathy from septic arthritis and osteomyelitis.