Effect of glucose and swine blood on the effectiveness of the "SK" medium

The effectiveness of the "SK" medium for growth of bacteria producing green discoloration in cured meat products was examined with the addition of various amounts of glucose (0.0%, 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0%), pig blood (0.0%, 2.5% and 5.0%). It was found that pig blood in the medium was indispensable for growth and differentiation of the green-producing bacteria, and that its optimum concentration is 5%. The effectiveness of the medium was with addition of 0.1% glucose.     

Prognostic factors affecting survival in multiple myeloma

70 patients suffering from multiple myeloma were observed by authors in the last 15 years and three months. In the meantime fifty-two out of them have died, and 18 patients are under permanent care. 43 IgG, 17 IgA, 6 Bence-Jones, 2 IgD types were diagnosed according to the paraprotein distribution, one patient proved to be nonsecretory, and an other one to osteosclerotic form as well. The median survival time was 27 months in the group of deceased patients. In the group followed-up 50.8 months survival time was observed up to the closing of the study. Several prognostic factors were investigated. According to the classification by Durie and Salmon the survival time was 60 months in the patients with stage I, 33 months in stage II., and 9 months in stage III respectively. The prognosis is much poorer in patients into the "B" category: the survival time was 14 months. Classified in the basis of the type of the myeloma-cell, the cases with well matured cells have had the best prognosis with survival time of 46 months, while the most unfavourable prognosis was observed in patients with blast-cell type, with a median survival time of 10 months. The greatest number of patients suffered from multiple myeloma of IgG paraprotein type, in this group the serum IgA level was found to be significantly decreased in the patients died due to inevitable infections. The survival was injured significantly by the occurrence of concomitant severe diseases, to.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The prevalence of serological markers for the human immunodeficiency virus and the hepatitis B virus in a psychiatric hospital

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to delta virus (anti-DV). DESIGN: Cross-sectional (prevalence) study. A non-proportional (stratified by length of stay) random sample of 20% of admitted patients was selected. CLINICAL SETTING: The Hospital Psiquiátrico Nuestra Se?ora de Montserrat (Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain) admits about 670 patients in its short-term, rehabilitation (mid-term) and long-term wards. SUBJECTS: 139 patients were selected: 91% were males, mean age was 55 years, and 10% belonged to an HIV risk group; mean length of hospitalization since last discharge was 13 years. MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were drawn in October, 1988. Anti-HBc, HBsAg and anti-DV were determined by competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Anti-HIV-1 were determined by sandwich EIA; negativity of results with high absorbency but below the cut-off point was confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS: None of the sampled patients had circulating anti-HIV-1 antibodies. Four cases showing high absorbency (below the "cut-off" point) were ruled out by Western-blot. Overall, the prevalence of anti-HBc was 52.8% (54.4% in long-term wards, 35.0% in mid-term wards, and 13.8% in short-term wards). The prevalence of HBsAg was 2.3%, of anti-DV 1.5%, and of HDAg 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of anti-HIV is null in the studied institution. Current efforts to prevent HIV infection must continue; a hepatitis B vaccination program is highly warranted among patients and professionals of the studied hospital.     

Calcium channel modulation by dihydropyridines modifies sufentanil-induced antinociception in acute and tolerant conditions

Summary The study was aimed at elucidating the possible participation of l-type Ca²⁺ channel in the acute analgesic effect of an opiate and the development of tolerance to this action. Sufentanil, a selective p agonist, and two dihydropyridines, the Ca²⁺ antagonist nimodipine and the Ca²⁺ agonist Bay K 8644, were selected. The tail-flick test was used to assess the nociceptive threshold. In naive rats, nimodipine (200 g/kg) potentiated the analgesic effect of sufentanil reducing the ED₅₀ from 0.26 to 0.08 g/kg. Similar results were observed with its (–)-enantiomer Bay N 5248, while the (+) enantiomer Bay N 5247 was ineffective. Tolerance to the opiate was induced by chronic subcutaneous administration of sufentanil with minipumps (2 g/h, 7 days). In these conditions the dose-response curve to sufentanil was displaced to the right and the ED₅₀ was increased to 1.49 g/kg. In tolerant rats, nimodipine preserved its potentiating ability and prevented the displacement to the right of the sufentanil dose response-curve (ED₅₀ = 0.48 g/kg). When nimodipine was pumped (1 g/h, 7 days) concurrently with sufentanil, the development of tolerance to the opioid was not disturbed. However, the expression of tolerance was abolished and even the effect of acutely administered sufentanil was markedly potentiated (ED₅₀ = 0.03 g/kg). Similar experiments were performed with Bay K 8644. In naive rats, Bay K 8644 at a low dose (20 g/kg) that behaves as a calcium agonist, antagonized the analgesic effect of sufentanil (ED₅₀ = 0.58 g/kg), whereas at a high dose (200 g/kg) it potentiated this action (ED₅₀ = 0.15 g/kg). In tolerant rats, Bay K 8644 (20 g/kg) preserved its antagonizing ability inducing a displacement to the right of the sufentanildose-response curve (ED₅₀ = 4.2 g/kg). When Bay K 8644 was pumped (1 g/h, 7 days) concurrently with sufentanil, it enhanced the expression of tolerance to the opiate (ED₅₀ = 3.8 g/kg). These results suggest that the calcium fluxes through the l-type channel in neurones are functionally linked to the activation of the opiate receptor: the blockade of the channel increased the potency of sufentanil, whereas its activation reduced the potency of the opiate. In chronic experiments, DHPs concurrently administered with sufentanil did not affect the development of tolerance to the opiate. However, nimodipine prevented the expression of this phenomenon. Even more, the animals became hypersensitive to the opiate suggesting that the adaptative mechanisms induced by chronic opiate could be affected by chronic nimodipine.This work was supported by grants from Universidad de Cantabria-Caja Cantabria (1988) and Bayer AG, Wuppertal, FRGPredoctoral Fellow: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social.Send offprint requests to: M. A. Hurlé at the above address     

The accompanying male parent in the intensive care unit

A study is made in the Intensive Care Unit of "José L. Miranda" Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Santa Clara in order to know the sequence with which the father occupies the place of the mother in the care of hospitalized children. With this objective, 54 male companions are surveyed in the first trimester of 1987. The prevailing occupational profile was that of worker. A higher number of the respondents were between 17 and 25 years of age. The school level of secondary school prevailed among patient companions. Most of them reported no economic inconveniences during the child's disease. The desire to remain at the bedside and the inability of the mother to do so were the major reasons for their stay. The advantages recognized by the nursing personnel in male companions are made known.     

Analysis of the Essential Oil of Solidago canadensis

The analysis of the volatile compounds in the essential oil of SOLIDAGO CANADENSISL. sensu lato (Compositae) GC and GC-MS demonstrated the presence of at least 36 compounds, 18 of which were identified. The Major comonenets are gamma (2)- and delta-cadinenes.     

A case-control study of risk factor for renal cell cancer in northern Italy

A hospital-based case-control study of renal cell cancer was conducted in northern Italy betwen 1986 and 1989, with 240 cases of renal cell cancer (150 males and 90 females), and 665 controls (445 males and 220 females) chosen on the basis of age, sex, and area of residence. No associations were found between renal cell cancer and: body mass index (BMI); number of cigarettes smoked; age at starting to smoke; years of smoking; consumption of wine, beer, spirits, coffee, decaffeinated coffee; tea; intake of animal protein, fruits, and vegetables; various resproductive factors; hormonal use; sexual habits; sexually transmitted diseases; or selected occupational exposures. The odds ratio (OR) was above unity in smokers (OR=1.34 for 15 cigarettes/day), but the trends in risk with dose or duration were not statistically significant. Significant positive associations were found between renal cell cancer and sources of fat intake, especially margarine (OR for highest vs lowest intake = 1.71), and oils (OR=1.89) whereas carrot intake showed a negative association (OR=0.62). Also, a history of nephrolithiasis and multiple episodes of cystitis showed weak positive associations (OR=2.00, 95 percent confidence interval (CI) 1.07–3.73; and OR=1.60, 95 percent CI 0.95–2.70, respectively).Address reprint requests to Dr Talamini. The work was conducted with the contribution of the Italian Association for Cancer Research, Milan, Italy and the CNR (Italian National Research Council) Applied Projects Oncology (Contract n. 85.02209.44).Drs Talamini, Barón, Barra, Bidoli, Serraino, and Franceschi are in the Epidemiology Unit, Aviano Cancer Center, Via Pedemontana Occ. 33081 Aviano (PN) Italy. At the time of this work, Dr Barón was a visiting biostatistician from the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado, Health Science Center, CO, funded by the National Cancer Institute (US) and the Italian National Research Council. Dr Franceschi is also chief of the Hormones and Sexual Factors and Cancer Working Group of the European Organization for Cooperation in Cancer Prevention Studies, Bruxelles, Belgium. Drs La Vecchia and Negri are in the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy. Dr La Vecchia is also in the Institute of Social and preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.     

Antidepressant-like activity of ipsapirone, buspirone and gepirone in the forced swimming test in rats pretreated with proadifen

The antidepressant-like activity of ipsapirone, buspirone and gepirone was studied in rats in the forced swimming test (behavioural despair test). lpsapirone and buspirone administered in single doses (5-20 mg/kg) did not affect the immobility time in this test. When administered in the same doses in a three-injection course in 24 h, buspirone was also inactive, while ipsapirone slightly but significantly reduced the immobility time only after a dose of 5 mg/kg. On the other hand, gepirone administered both in single doses (2.5-20 mg/kg) and in a three-injection course (5-20 mg/kg) potently and dose-dependently shortened the immobility time. 1-(2-Pyrimidinyl)-piperazine (1-PP; 5-20 mg/kg), a common metabolite of all the three drugs, administered in single doses or in a three-injection course, was inactive in the forced swimming test. In rats pretreated with proadifen (50 mg/kg), a non-selective drug metabolism inhibitor, both ipsapirone and buspirone administered in single doses (5-20 mg/kg) reduced the immobility time in a dose-dependent manner. Proadifen also potentiated the anti-immobility effect of gepirone (5 and 10 mg/kg). The anti-immobility effect of single doses (20 mg/kg) of ipsapirone, buspirone and gepirone in proadifen-pretreated animals was completely abolished by 1-PP (4 mg/kg). These results indicate that the antidepressant-like activity of the examined drugs in the behavioural despairtest is masked (ipsapirone, buspirone) or attenuated (gepirone) by their metabolite 1-PP.     

Initial treatment of the early stages (I, II) of supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma: partial laryngectomy versus radiotherapy

The purpose of this study was to define the treatment of choice (partial laryngectomy vs radiotherapy) in the early stage of supraglottic squamous cell cancer (ESSC). One hundred and fifteen patients with ESSC were treated with either partial laryngectomy (25 patients) or with radiotherapy(90 patients) between January 1984 and December 1996. All patients had a follow-up of over ¶29 months. Radiotherapy (RT) had a local control rate of 79%, which increased to 90% with salvage surgery, and a high larynx preservation rate (83%). Partial laryngectomy (PL) offered a better initial local control rate of 84%, which increased to 88% with salvage surgery, and functional results were also good (80%). No statistically significant differences were found between RT and PL. RT was less costly, showed better suitability for treatment, produced moderate morbidity and sequelae, and local recurrence was easier to rescue. However, it is a once-only application technique. PL showed higher immediate postoperative morbidity, higher cost and lower suitability for treatment but had fewer sequelae, offered the best initial local control and is multi-applicable. No clear oncological arguments were found in our series to define whether PL or RT is the treatment of choice for ESSC. Both are effective therapies. Secondary factors such as suitability for treatment, morbidity, cost and applicability should be individually evaluated when choosing the type of treatment. As the laser endoscopic approach decreases morbidity and costs and makes the condition more suitable for treatment, it could be the treatment of choice for ESSC, in cases where local tumoral extent and larynx exposure allow radical excision.     

Nasotracheal enterococcal carriage and resistomes: detection of optrA-, poxtA- and cfrD-carrying strains in migratory birds,livestock, pets,and in-contact humans in Spain

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - This study determined the carriage rates and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes of enterococci from...