Inhibition of cigarette smoke-related lipophilic DNA adducts in rat tissues by dietary oltipraz

The present study investigated the effects of dietary oltipraz on cigarette smoke-related lipophilic DNA adduct formation. Female Sprague- Dawley rats were exposed daily to sidestream cigarette smoke in a whole- body exposure chamber 6 h/day for 4 consecutive weeks. One group of rats was maintained on control diet while another group received the same diet supplemented with either a low (167 p.p.m.) or high (500 p.p.m.) dose of oltipraz, starting 1 week prior to initiation of smoke exposure until the end of the experiment. Analysis of lipophilic DNA adducts by the nuclease P1-mediated 32P-post-labeling showed up to five smoke-related adducts. Adduct no. 5 predominated in both the lung and the heart while adduct nos 3 and 2 predominated in the trachea and bladder, respectively. Quantitative analysis revealed that the total adduct level was the highest in lungs (270+/-68 adducts/10(10) nucleotides), followed by trachea (196+/-48 adducts/10(10) nucleotides), heart (141+/-22 adducts/10(10) nucleotides) and bladder (85+/-16 adducts/10(10) nucleotides). High dose oltipraz treatment reduced the adduct levels in lungs and bladder by >60%, while the reduction in lungs in the low-dose group was approximately 35%. In trachea, the effect of low and high dietary oltipraz on smoke DNA adduction was equivocal, while smoke-related DNA adducts in the heart were minimally inhibited by high-dose oltipraz. In a repeat experiment that employed a 3-fold lower dose of cigarette smoke, oltipraz (500 p.p.m.) was found to inhibit the formation of DNA adducts in rat lungs and trachea by 80 and 65%, respectively. These data clearly demonstrate a high efficacy of oltipraz in inhibiting the formation of cigarette smoke-induced DNA adducts in the target tissues.      

Effects of dietary fat and a vegetable-fruit mixture on the development of intestinal neoplasia in the ApcMin mouse

The variation in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence worldwide strongly suggests a role for dietary influences. Based on epidemiological data, protective effects of vegetables and fruit intake on CRC are widely claimed, while other data indicate a possible increased CRC risk from (higher) dietary fat intake. Therefore, we have investigated single and interactive effects of dietary fat and a vegetable-fruit mixture (VFM) in the ApcMin mouse, a mouse model for multiple intestinal neoplasia. In this study, four different diets (A-D) were compared, which were either low in fat (20% energy diets A/B) or high in fat (40% energy diets C/D). In addition, 19.5% (wt/wt) of the carbohydrates in diets B and D were replaced by a freeze-dried VFM. The diets were balanced so that they only differed among each other in fat/carbohydrate content and the presence of specific plant-constituents. Because the initiation of intestinal tumors in ApcMin mice occurs relatively early in life, exposure to the diets was started in utero. Without the addition of VFM, mice maintained at a high-fat diet did not develop significantly higher numbers of small or large intestinal adenomas than mice maintained at a low-fat diet. VFM added to a low-fat diet significantly lowered multiplicity of small intestinal polyps (from 16.2 to 10.2/mouse, 15 animals/group), but not of colon tumors in male ApcMin mice only. Strikingly, addition of VFM to female mice maintained on a low-fat diet and to both sexes maintained on a high-fat diet significantly enhanced intestinal polyp multiplicity (from 16.5 to 26.7 polyps/mouse). In conclusion, our results indicate that neither a lower fat intake nor consumption of VFM included in a high-fat diet decreases the development of polyps in mice genetically predisposed to intestinal tumor development.      

Assessment of fetal behavior and general movements by four-dimensional sonography

The aim of this paper was to review the clinical applications of four-dimensional ultrasonography in the assessment of fetal behavior. With the use of a computerized database, articles on three-dimensional ultrasonography were reviewed. Several applications of dynamic three-dimensional ultrasonography have been reported, including imaging of fetal movements, facial expression and fetal hand movements. The importance of the assessment of fetal behavior by four-dimensional sonography is stressed. Four-dimensional sonography seems to be a useful imaging tool for clinical problem solving in perinatology, especially in observing the development of the central nervous system in utero.     

Intravesical oxybutynin: practicalities of clinical use.

Oral anticholinergic therapy, used for the treatment of detrusor overactivity (DO), is limited by systemic side-effects and because of failure to respond. Alternative routes of administration include the intravesical route. We reviewed 11 women who were treated with intravesical oxybutynin (IVO). All had idiopathic DO, their symptoms having been unsuccessfully controlled on oral agents. Seven patients had symptomatic improvement. Six out of the eight patients that completed their voiding diaries showed a reduction in voiding frequency. Five patients found the procedure too inconvenient. Seven patients suffered chemical irritation. One patient complained of voiding difficulties. No patient reported systemic side-effects. The mean duration of treatment was 4-5 weeks; two patients continue to use IVO. IVO can be used successfully in the treatment of DO, but its use is limited due to the inconvenience related to catheterisation. With the advent of Botox and oxybutynin patches, IVO probably has a limited role.     

Acute ischemia of the hand as a complication of radial artery catheterization. Apropos of 2 cases following abdominal sarcoma surgery

Arterial catheterization is a simple technique that yields great benefits, such as continuous monitoring of arterial pressure and the possibility of taking repeated samples for analysis. However, it is not free of complications, the main ones being limb ischemia and gas embolism. To reduce the risk of complications, guidelines for insertion and maintenance of arterial catheters have been established. We report two cases of acute hand ischemia secondary to arterial catheterization. Both patients were undergoing surgery for sarcoma-type abdominal cancer and developed acute ischemia of the hand lasting several hours. The predisposing factor in both cases was the existence of a highly advanced sarcoma-type abdominal tumor, probably related to a state of hypercoagulability.     

Linfadenitis por micobacterias no tuberculosas: experiencia de 15 años

Objective

To study the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, therapeutic management, and outcome of non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in a paediatric population of Aragón (Spain).