Hepatic infarction with absolute ethanol

Ethanol was used to embolize the hepatic artery in 7 dogs, producing occlusion proportional to the dose employed. On follow-up angiography at 1 and 4 weeks, occlusion was unchanged or more pronounced, indicating that such embolization is permanent. Because ethanol is nonviscous and easy to use, it is effective in occluding the hepatic arterial system. Perisinusoidal fibrosis is produced.     

Subacute scrotal pain: evaluation of torsion versus epididymitis with MR imaging

Torsion knot and whirlpool patterns result from the twisting of the spermatic cord, which produces distortion of cord structures. These two findings, along with spermatic cord vascularity, were used to prospectively differentiate testicular torsion from epididymitis in 11 patients with subacute scrotal pain who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The final diagnosis was established clinically in four patients and surgically in five. MR imaging enabled the recognition of each entity without error. Retrospective review of findings highlighted other potential discriminating features, the most important of which were testicular size and vascularity. Because of its ability to highlight vessels and detail normal and abnormal intrascrotal anatomy, MR imaging in this small series enabled the differentiation of subacute torsion from epididymitis with 100% accuracy. This high degree of accuracy warrants further investigation.     

Feeding of 10-month-old infants. What problems? What solutions?

The feeding of 279 infants aged 10 months was evaluated by the dietary history method, in Paris health centers for children. The results of this survey, as compared with the recommended dietary allowances of the Centre National de Coordination des Etudes et Recherches sur la Nutrition et l'Alimentation (CNERNA) and of the National Research Council (NRC), showed that nutriment, vitamin and mineral needs are generally covered. However, intakes lower than the recommendations were observed concerning iron in 72% of the children, polyunsaturated fatty acids in 50% and vitamin E in 70%. In other respects, protein and saccharose intakes were high. Feeding of 10 months old children could be easily improved by choosing foods properly, allowing to cover these children's needs and to avoid excesses.     

Lymphatic sinusoids exist in chick but not in rabbit choroid

Purpose: Although it is generally thought that lymphatics do not exist in the choroid, there is mounting evidence that lymphatic-like structures do exist in primates and fowl. Methods/Results: Our comparison of the ultrastructure of chick and rabbit outer choroid indicates that major differences exist in the non-vascular areas of the choroid: notably, the chick has large lymphatic sinusoids, whereas the rabbit only has a system of large vacuoles contained within the processes of individual fibroblasts. Conclusions: These results raise questions regarding the similarities or otherwise between species of the management of retinal metabolites, excess tissue fluid and choroidal homeostasis, especially during conditions of overload.     

A bolus of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone at midcycle induces periovulatory events following multiple follicular development in macaques

The efficacy of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) as an alternative to luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) for the initiation of periovulatory events in primate follicles is unknown. A single bolus of 2500 IU recombinant (r)-hFSH was compared to 1000 IU r- HCG for its ability to promote oocyte nuclear maturation and fertilization, granulosa cell luteinization and corpus luteum function following r-hFSH (60 IU/day) induction of multiple follicular development in rhesus monkeys. Following the r-hFSH bolus, bioactive luteinizing hormone concentrations were <3 ng/ml. Peak concentrations of serum FSH (1455+/-314 mIU/ml; mean+/-SEM) were attained 2-8 h after r-hFSH, and declined by 96 h. Bioactive HCG concentrations peaked between 2-8 h after r-HCG and remained > or = 100 ng/ml for >48 h, while immunoreactive FSH concentrations were at baseline. The proportion of oocytes resuming meiosis and undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were comparable for r-hFSH (89%; 47+/-19%) and r- HCG (88%; 50+/-17%). In-vitro progesterone production and expression of progesterone receptors in granulosa cells did not differ between groups. Peak concentrations of serum progesterone in the luteal phase were similar, but were lower 6-9 days post-FSH relative to HCG. Thus, a bolus of r-hFSH was equivalent to r-HCG for the reinitiation of oocyte meiosis, fertilization and granulosa cell luteinization, but a midcycle FSH surge did not sustain normal luteal function in primates.      

Modulation of the uptake and metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone by nicotine in hamster lung

The tobacco-specific carcinogenic nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), is formed during the curing and processing of tobacco by nitrosation of nicotine. Nicotine and NNK have structural similarities, and they are both metabolized extensively by lung tissue via several steps known to require oxidative enzyme systems, such as cytochrome P450. On the other hand, nicotine exerts many biological effects similar to those caused by the physiological neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a phenomenon mediated through selective uptake mechanisms via nicotinic cholinergic cell membrane receptors. The aim of this study was to determine if nicotine modulates NKK metabolism in hamster lung explants and if NNK competes with nicotine for binding sites on nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the hamster lung in vivo. Our data show a concentration-dependent inhibition of NNK metabolism in vitro by alpha-carbon hydroxylation and pyridine N-oxidation, whereas the carbonyl reduction of NNK remained unchanged. Radioreceptor assays with membrane receptor fractions of hamster lung after exposure to radiolabeled (S)-(-)-nicotine revealed significant numbers of nicotinic binding sites only in the lungs of hamsters with hyperplasia of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells caused by 4-wk preexposure to hyperoxia. In such animals, radiolabeled nicotine was displaced from the receptor binding sites by NNK. Our data suggest that nicotine can potentially interfere with the carcinogenicity of NNK by competition for enzyme systems essential for the metabolic activation of the nitrosamine and by competition as ligand for nicotinic cholinergic receptors.     

Acute pancreatitis: prognostic value of CT

In 83 patients with acute pancreatitis, the initial computed tomographic (CT) examinations were classified by degree of disease severity (grades A-E) and were correlated with the clinical follow-up, objective prognostic signs, and complications and death. The length of hospitalization correlated well with the severity of the initial CT findings. Abscesses occurred in 21.6% of the entire group, compared with 60.0% of grade E patients. Pleural effusions were also more common in grade E patients. Grades A and B patients did not have abscesses, and none died, regardless of the number of prognostic signs. Abscesses were seen in 80.0% of patients with six to eight prognostic signs, compared with 12.5% of those with zero to two. The use of prognostic signs with initial CT findings results in improved prognostic accuracy. Early CT examination of patients with acute pancreatitis is a useful prognostic indicator of morbidity and mortality.