Oxidative stress in term small for gestational age neonates born to undernourished mothers: a case control study

Background  

The objective of this study was to assess the status of oxidative stress in term small for gestational age (SGA) newborn infants born to undernourished mothers by estimating levels of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in cord blood and comparing them to healthy appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls. This was done in a case control design at a tertiary level teaching hospital.     

Schizophrenia: Solving the puzzle

Background Schizophrenia is a common mental illness with an incidence of 15 new cases per 100,000 population per year. Aim To review evidence for current neurodevelopmental models of the aetiology of schizophrenia. Methods We performed a literature search using Medline and PsychINFO. We evaluated the relevance of each article and tracked other relevant articles through references. Results There is considerable evidence to support neurodevelopmental models of the aetiology of schizophrenia. One or more aetiological events occur between conception and birth that disturb central nervous system (CNS) development, leading to persisting alterations in brain structure and function. These early events, acting in concert with genetic loading and later influences or insults, predispose to the development of schizophrenia in early adulthood. Conclusions There have been considerable advances in schizophrenia research over the past 20 years. Future study of indices of neural development will help advance our understanding of this common, disabling mental illness.     

Rare detection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus genomes by polymerase chain reaction in seronegative donors with elevated alanine aminotransferase

BACKGROUND: Since screening for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was introduced in 1990, posttransfusion hepatitis has been reduced to nearly background levels. This has led to reconsideration of the value of testing donated blood for elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The contribution of ALT testing in detecting seronegative infection was evaluated by the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HCV in plasma from ALT-elevated blood units. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Testing was performed on 375 units of plasma, derived from an equivalent of 47,500 blood donations, with a highly sensitive hemi-nested PCR procedure. Using a triplet of primers directed at the conserved regions of HBV DNA and 5'-noncoding regions of HCV RNA, the hemi-nested PCR assay can reliably amplify 10 viral molecules to levels detectable in ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. Pools of plasma from groups of four donors were screened with hemi-nested PCR. For any reactive pools, the plasma from individual donors was retested twice on different aliquots. RESULTS: Two of 375 units, both with midrange ALT elevation, were repeatedly reactive in hemi-nested PCR (one each for HBV DNA and HCV RNA). However, samples from the two suspect donors tested 9 and 5 months later revealed no seroconversion, elevated ALT, or viral genomes in hemi-nested PCR. CONCLUSION: The lack of confirmed HBV or HCV infection in this study representing an estimated 47,500 voluntary blood donations suggests that routine ALT testing for further prevention of posttransfusion hepatitis after exclusion of HBV- and/or HCV-seropositive blood may be superfluous.     

Treatment of refractory adult lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with 4'(9- acridinylamino) methanesulfon-M-anisidide (AMSA)

Twenty-four adults with ALL were treated with AMSA alone or in combination. Twenty-two were treated at time of relapse and two patients after failing primary induction therapy. All had been treated with anthracyclines prior to receiving AMSA. Of the 22 patients with ALL in relapse, 4 achieved a complete remission. Two of these patients have relapsed while receiving maintenance chemotherapy; one died 1 mo after achieving remission due to the occurrence of cholycystitis in the setting of pancytopenia and one patient underwent bone marrow transplantation and is in remission at 8 mo after the second remission. Both patients who failed primary induction therapy remain in remission at 11 and 36 mo, respectively. The use of AMSA should be considered for patients with ALL who fail primary induction as well as those whose leukemia becomes resistant to conventional agents.     

Obstructive sleep apnea, nasal congestion, and snoring: their systemic effects and impact on quality of life.

A literature review was conducted to evaluate the available published data on sleep-related breathing disorders with a focus on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, nasal congestion, and snoring. The MEDLINE database was used to obtain pertinent reviews and articles. The pathophysiology of snoring, a partial blockage of the airway, and of apnea or total airway obstruction, is described. Contributing factors to the etiology of the OSA syndrome as well as current methods of diagnosis are discussed. Adverse systemic sequelae of the OSA syndrome, especially those pertaining to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, are detailed. Treatment options, both nonsurgical and surgical, which are used to improve the quality of life of patients with these disorders, are presented also.