Effects of calcium and magnesium salts on nickel subsulfide carcinogenicity in Fischer rats

The effects of calcium or magnesium salts administered by oneof three different routes on the formation of muscle tumorsby nickel subsulfide (Ni₃S₂) in Fischer F344 rats were determined.Eleven groups of 20 weanling male rats each received a singleinjection of 2.5 mg (31 µmol Ni) Ni₃S₂ into the thighmuscles of both hind limbs (i.m.). Then the rats were fed 3%calcium acetate (CaAcet)- or 3% magnesium acetate (MgAcet)-supplementeddiets for 3 and 6 months, or were injected s.c. three timesweekly, with 0.16 mmol doses of CaAcet/kg/injection, or with2 mmol doses of MgAcet/kg/ injection, for 1 or 4 months. Twoother groups of 20 rats were injected i.m. with 2.5 mg (31 µmolNi) of Ni₃S₂ mixed with 6.2 mg (62 µmol Ca) of calciumcarbonate (CaCarb), or with 6.3 mg (62 µmol Mg) of magnesiumbasic carbonate (MgCarb). The control groups of rats receivedsingle i.m. injections of the 0.15 M saline vehicle, 6.2 mgCaCarb, and 6.3 mg MgCarb, or s.c. injections of 0.15 M saline,or 4 mmol sodium acetate, NaAcet/kg/injection, three times weeklyfor 4 months. After 18 months, injection site tumors were found:(i) in 70–90% of the rats injected i.m. with Ni₃S₂ andfed standard diet or the diets containing CaAcet or MgAcet,with no significant differences among the groups; (ii) in 95–100% of the rats given i.m. Ni₃S₂ and then treated withmultiple s.c. injections of saline, NaAcet, CaAcet or MgAcet,with no significant differences among the groups; (iii) in 85%of rats injected i.m. with Ni₃S₂ + CaCarb, and (iv) in 25% ofthe rats injected i.m. with Ni₃S₂ + MgCarb. No tumors developedin the control rats. The admixtures of CaCarb or MgCarb to Ni₃S₂did not affect the mobilization of nickel from the injectionsite. They did, however, influence the cellular responses toNi₃S₂ in early stages, from 3 days to 22 weeks, after the injection.MgCarb, unlike CaCarb, strongly decreased the necrosis and increasedmacrophage proliferation at the Ni₃S₂ injection site. It alsodelayed the occurrence and proliferation of histiocytic-stromalcells, and prevented the occurrence of altered myoblasts.     

Atrial fibrillation in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting: the role of autonomic nervous system

In 42 patients the 24-hour ECG was performed before and on the fifth day after the elective coronary artery bypass grafting. In general 34 bouts of atrial fibrillation occurred in 14 patients. According to frequency analysis of the HRV 23 (67.6%) of these paroxysms were found sympathetically driven, 6 (17.6%) vagally driven and 5 (14.7%) undefined. The predominating role of adrenergic activation in the initiation of the bouts of atrial fibrillation in this group of patients suggests the need to use adequate doses of beta-adrenolytic agents during the perioperative period of ischaemic heart disease treatment.     

Complications of primary hyperthyroidism as a consequence of subsitutional therapy interruption

The case of a 32-year old female patient with primary hypothyroidism suffering from severe myxoedema as a consequence of denying thyroxin taking is presented. Severe expression of pathological changes in circular-respiratory system and uncommon skin changes are discussed.     

Treatment of entropion using mucous membrane and cartilage grafts from the nasal septum

The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of treatment of entropion by means of mucous and cartilage grafts, harvested from the nasal septum. From 1989 to 2004 thirteen patients with entropion resulting from chemical and thermal burning or mechanical trauma were treated at the Hospital of Plastic Surgery in Polanica Zdr6j. Upper eyelid deformities were corrected in 14 cases, while the lower eyelid was repaired in 3 cases. Blepharotomy was performed by means of subciliary incision. Compound mucous and cartilage grafts harvested from the nasal septum, were sutured into the defects. Very good results and complete resolution of contractures were obtained in 15 cases, while 2 patients underwent a repeated surgery in which compound grafts were used again. According to the author's opinion, the above described method is an effective modality of treatment of cicatricial entropion.     

Managing epilepsy well: self-management needs assessment

Epilepsy self-management interventions have been investigated with respect to health care needs, medical adherence, depression, anxiety, employment, and sleep problems. Studies have been limited in terms of representative samples and inconsistent or restricted findings. The direct needs assessment of patients with epilepsy as a basis for program design has not been well used as an approach to improving program participation and outcomes. This study investigated the perceived medical and psychosocial problems of adults with epilepsy, as well as their preferences for self-management program design and delivery format. Results indicated a more psychosocially challenged subgroup of individuals with significant depressive and cognitive complaints. A self-management program that involves face-to-face individual or group meetings led by an epilepsy professional and trained peer leader for 60 minutes weekly was preferred. Six to eight sessions focused on diverse education sessions (e.g., managing disability and medical care, socializing on a budget, and leading a healthy lifestyle) and emotional coping strategies delivered on weeknights or Saturday afternoons were most highly endorsed. Emotional self-management and cognitive compensatory strategies require special emphasis given the challenges of a large subgroup.     

The use of neural networks in evaluation of the direction and dynamics of changes in lipid parameters in kidney transplant patients on the Mediterranean diet.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess whether neural networks can be a tool useful in the evaluation of the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on the direction and dynamics of selected parameters. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective study. SETTING: Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: The study group consisted of 21 patients after kidney transplantation whose diet complied with the MD; the control group included 16 patients (also after transplantation) on a low-fat diet, isocaloric with the study diet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometry, plasma lipids, chromatography of triacylglycerols and fatty acids, and activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase were measured in both groups. Statistical analysis was done with the SNN (Statistica Neural Networks) StatSoft software package. RESULTS: The advantage of neural networks is the possibility of the dynamic presentation of a process taking place in a biological system. In the MD group in the first months of use of the diet, the cholesterol level was reduced only in the group of young and middle-aged patients. This tendency was not observed among elderly patients, among whom a small reduction of the total cholesterol level was noted only at the end of the observation period. In control group at the beginning of the observation, the plasma total cholesterol level was proportional to the patient's age. After 6 months, the total cholesterol increased in young patients and redacted in the group of elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the MD diet would be ideal for posttransplantation patients without serious pathologic dyslipidemia. In the case of patients with substantial dyslipidemia, appropriate pharmacologic treatment lowering proatherosclerotic lipid levels should be used in combination with the MD. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were a useful tool in modeling biological parameters, showing dynamics of the studied interactions in a very detailed way. ANN is the most suitable method for investigations with many variables, interconnected nonlinearly; therefore, this method allows for a more general approach to biological problems. However, it should be noted that considerable data sets are required to obtain a satisfactory fit to the data. Moreover, to ensure the predictive power of this method for new cases, the representative database is indispensable. In spite of these demands, ANN is a prospective tool for reliable, quick assessments and predictions.     

Osteoglophonic dysplasia: appearance and progression of multiple nonossifying fibromata

The appearance and gradual enlargement of fibrous cortical defects and multiple nonossifying fibromata are documented in this report of a 2-year-old boy with a very rare skeletal dysplasia known as osteoglophonic dysplasia, characterized by multiple and recurrent craniosynostoses, platyspondyly, short tubular bones, and epiphyseal dysplasia. Received: 10 November 1995 Accepted: 13 March 1996