Benign osteoblastoma of the parietal bone

A 5-year-old girl presented with a 1-year history of a subcutaneous swelling in the right parietal region. There were no cerebral symptoms or signs. Plain X-ray of the skull showed a lytic bony lesion with sclerotic margin. Computed tomography showed a hypodense, osteolytic lesion with thinned and bulged inner and outer skull tables with intact continuity. There was no intracranial lesion. At operation, the mass was found to be pink and granular, and was totally enucleated. Histology revealed it to be a benign osteoblastoma.     

Effect of Bupivacaine and Levobupivacaine on Exocytotic Norepinephrine Release from Rat Atria

Background: The cardiotoxic mechanism of local anesthetics may include interruption of cardiac sympathetic reflexes. The authors undertook this investigation to determine if clinically relevant concentrations of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine interfere with exocytotic norepinephrine release from cardiac sympathetic nerve endings.

Methods: Rat atria were prepared for measurements of twitch contractile force and 3[H]-norepinephrine release. After nerve endings were loaded with 3[H]-norepinephrine, the tissue was electrically stimulated in 5-min episodes during 10 10-min sampling periods. After each period, a sample of bath fluid was analyzed for radioactivity and 3[H]-norepinephrine release was expressed as a fraction of tissue counts. Atria were exposed to buffer alone during sampling periods 1 and 2 (S1 and S2). Control atria received saline (100 [mu]l each, n = 6 atria) in S3-S10. Experimental groups (n = 6 per group) received either bupivacaine or levobupivacaine at concentrations (in [mu]M) of 5 (S3-S4), 10 (S5-S6), 30 (S7-S8), and 100 (S9-S10).

Results: Bupivacaine and levobupivacaine decreased stimulation-evoked fractional 3[H]-norepinephrine release with inhibitory concentration 50% values of 5.1 +/- 0.5 and 6.1 +/- 1.3 [mu]m. The inhibitory effect of both local anesthetics (~70%) approached that of tetrodotoxin. Local anesthetics abolished the twitch contractions of atria with inhibitory concentration 50% values of 12.6 +/- 5.0 [mu]m (bupivacaine) and 15.7 +/- 3.9 [mu]m (levobupivacaine). In separate experiments, tetrodotoxin inhibited twitch contractile force by only 30%.     

Enhancement of transdermal delivery of 6-beta-naltrexol via a codrug linked to hydroxybupropion.

Naltrexone (NTX) is a potent opioid antagonist used in the treatment of alcohol dependence and heroin abuse. Compared with naloxone, NTX has a longer duration of action largely attributed to its major active metabolite, 6-beta-naltrexol. The purpose of this study was to increase the delivery of 6-beta-naltrexol across human skin in vitro via a novel codrug. A carbonate codrug of 6-beta-naltrexol linked to hydroxybupropion was synthesized and evaluated. In vitro human skin permeation rates were measured using a flow-through diffusion cell system. The drug melting points, solubilities, chemical stability, and skin disposition were determined. The carbonate codrug was hydrolyzed on passing through skin and appeared as a combination of intact codrug and parent drugs, 6-beta-naltrexol and hydroxybupropion, in the receiver solution. The codrug provided a significantly (p<0.05) higher 6-beta-naltrexol flux across human skin than 6-beta-naltrexol base. The extent of parent drug regeneration in the skin ranged from 56 to 86%. A higher stratum corneum partition coefficient and rapid bioconversion of the carbonate codrug in the skin correlated with increased 6-beta-naltrexol delivery rates.     

Pulsed mode versus near-continuous mode delivery of diode laser photocoagulation for high-risk retinopathy of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare structural and functional outcomes and efficiency of diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) when delivered in a pulsed mode versus a near-continuous mode. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 138 patients who underwent diode laser photocoagulation for threshold ROP using either pulsed or near-continuous delivery. Laser-related complications and structural and functional outcomes were analyzed. Prospectively, time efficiency and total energy used were evaluated in nine infants with bilateral symmetric high-risk prethreshold ROP in which one eye of each infant was randomized to pulsed and the fellow eye to near-continuous delivery. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups with regards to prevalence of posterior disease (Zone 1 or posterior Zone 2) (p = 0.11), postoperative vitreous haze (p = 0.60), postoperative complications (p = 0.38), retinal detachment (p = 0.90), strabismus (p = 0.73), amblyopia (p = 0.69), or refractive error (p = 0.95). Mean time for treatment was 23 minutes using pulsed delivery versus 14 minutes per eye with near-continuous delivery (p < 0.001). The mean total power used per eye with pulsed mode delivery was 1.5 x 10(5) W versus 1.1 x 10(5) W with near-continuous delivery (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: No differences in complications, functional outcome, or structural outcome were found between using pulsed mode and near-continuous mode diode laser delivery for high-risk ROP. Near-continuous laser delivery, in our hands, was more time-efficient and used less total power.     

Influence of urbanization of the western coast of the United Arab Emirates on trace metal content in muscle and liver of wild Red-spot emperor (Lethrinus lentjan).

We hypothesized that increased ambient concentrations of metals, as a consequence of escalating urbanization and industrialization of the Gulf region will respond in increased contamination of edible fish species. In this study, we report concentrations of chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead in meat and liver of wild Red-spot emperor (Lethrinus lentjan) from three sampling points at the UAE coast. Analysis was performed by the ICP-MS/microwave digestion. Our study has shown that meat and liver metal content was significantly higher in areas with higher industrial activity, although metal values did not exceed permitted levels of fish for human consumption.     

A suggested clinical score to predict the severity of adenoid obstruction in children

Chronic nasal obstruction in children is a very common disorder. Obstructing adenoid is usually the first to blame. Though the clinical assessment is essential, it is often considered unreliable or insufficient. We conducted a prospective clinical study to validate a clinical score predicting the severity of adenoid obstruction in symptomatic children. The clinical score (CS) included mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, frequent waking-up at night and obstructive breathing during sleep. Each item received a score of 0 or 1. The palatal airway was evaluated on a lateral nasopharyngeal x-ray. The degree of obstruction was assessed intra-operatively by a laryngeal mirror using a 3-grade scale. The volume of each adenoid specimen was measured. Eighty-six patients were enrolled, 51 boys and 35 girls, aged 13–181 months (mean 52, median 45). The CS correlated very well with the intra-operative findings (p < 0.01) and with the degree of palatal airway obstruction (p < 0.05) but not with the volume of the adenoid removed (p > 0.05). The CS was higher in children younger than 3 years (CS > 3 in 85.7% vs. 29.2%), having more frequent obstructive breathing during sleep (71.43% vs. 21.54%). A CS of three or higher, predicted severe obstruction in 96.5% of patients, as detected intra-operatively. The suggested CS is simple to use and is highly reliable in identifying children in need for adenoidectomy, in the context of normal anterior rhinoscopy and tonsils less than grade three.This work was presented at the podium of the XVIII IFOS in Rome, Italy on June 26, 2005.     

Triethyllead-induced peroxidative damage in various regions of the rat brain

Adult male Fisher 344 rats (8-10 wk old) were dosed ip with 1.75 mg/kg body weight of triethyllead chloride (TEL) for 5 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed 1, 7, or 21 d after the last injection. The rate of lipid peroxidation was significantly elevated in frontal cortex at all three time points assayed (1, 7, or 21 d). However, hippocampal and cerebellar membranes showed no changes in peroxidative capacity at these time points. In order to determine whether cortical membrane damage was reflected in alteration of a restricted protein population, a series of high-affinity receptor binding sites was determined in cortical membranes derived from treated rats 7 d after the last injection of triethyllead. The rate of lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the frontal cortex of triethyllead treated rats; however, no changes in the binding of [3H]spiroperidol, [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, and [3H]benzodiazepine were seen in animals exposed to triethyllead. The cortical wet weight, protein content, and cell number were also unchanged by TEL treatment, reflecting an absence of gross damage.     

Feeding practice of infants and their correlates in urban areas of Beijing, China

BACKGROUND: Optimal feeding practice in the first year of life is crucial for the survival and health of infants, and has long-term consequences in later life. However, non-optimal feeding practices exist widely. The present study aims to explore various constraints to optimal feeding practices in the first year of life of infants in urban areas of Beijing, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban areas of Beijing from 4 July to 20 August, 1998. Two hundred and fifty-one mothers of infants aged 6-12 months were chosen from six child health centers in three different urban districts in Beijing. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding feeding practices and potentially related factors. RESULTS: Feeding practice for most of the infants was in accordance with the national and international recommendations. However, the rate of incidence of exclusive breast-feeding at 3 months of age was lower than that recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (55.8%), and the introduction of solid/semisolid food before 4 months of age was found in approximately 19.3% of the infants. Cow's milk was given to 21.2% of infants from 6 months of age as the sole source of milk or as a supplement. Maternal education level (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.42-4.19, P < 0.05), employment (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.13-3.74, P < 0.05) and antenatal nonexclusive breast-feeding plans (OR = 4.10, 95% CI: 2.24-7.50, P < 0.001) were found to be correlated to inappropriate feeding practices. CONCLUSIONS: The feeding practices for most of the urban infants was found to be in accordance with the Chinese government and WHO recommendations; however, non-optimal feeding practices presenting as the early cessation of breast-feeding and the introduction of solid/semisolid foods existed. Information regarding optimal feeding practices should be disseminated to mothers and medical professionals in China, to ensure optimal infant health.