Effect of Tween 80 on adriamycin cytotoxicity in murine P388 leukemia

Studies on mice bearing P388 adriamycin sensitive and resistant lymphocytic leukemia were carried out to compare antitumor activity of adriamycin dissolved in Tween 80 (10% in distilled water) with that of adriamycin dissolved in distilled water alone. The antitumor activity of adriamycin dissolved in acqueous solutions of Tween 80 was higher than that of adriamycin dissolved in distilled water against P388 leukemia sensitive to adriamycin. However, no change in the activity was observed in P388 leukemia resistant to adriamycin when the drug was administered either in aqueous solution of Tween 80 or in distilled water alone.     

Role of tear fluid in the growth of Gram-negative bacteria on contact lenses

Incidents of CLARE (contact lens induced acute red eye) are associated with high numbers of Gram-negative bacteria on the lens surface. This study found that most strains of bacteria implicated in CLARE adhere poorly to the lens surface regardless of whether the lens surface was clean or had been worn in the eye. The high numbers of bacteria on the lens surface result from bacterial growth on the lens surface after adhesion has occurred. Using an artificial tear formulation and real tears, this study demonstrated that the tear fluid provides the necessary nutrients required for bacterial growth.     

综述：α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂可改善血糖控制，但对2型糖尿病重要预后的效果尚不确定

问题：α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂能够有效地改善2型糖尿病患者的血糖控制吗？[编者按]     

The predictive value of inguinal herniography for the diagnosis and treatment of cryptorchidism

PURPOSE: We evaluated the role of a patent processus vaginalis for cryptorchidism as well as inguinal herniography as a predictor of the efficacy of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 244 boys with unilateral and 66 with bilateral cryptorchidism. All patients underwent inguinal herniography and received HCG. Nonresponders to treatment subsequently underwent orchiopexy, when processus vaginalis status, testicular position and epididymal characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: HCG was effective for 139 of 281 testes (49.5%) with an obliterated and 0 of 95 with a patent processus vaginalis on herniography. We further evaluated herniography in accordance with orchiopexy findings of persistent unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism in 206 boys (237 testes) after HCG. Herniography findings of processus vaginalis morphology revealed a close correlation with that reported by the surgeon after orchiopexy (p<0.000005). The incidence of a patent processus vaginalis increased as testicular position became more caudal. The processus vaginalis was obliterated in all cases of anorchia. The incidence of more severe epididymal anomalies decreased as the testicular position became more caudal. Epididymal abnormalities were more common when the processus vaginalis was patent. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment herniography assessment of processus vaginalis morphology is of prognostic value for predicting the efficacy of hormone treatment, the presence or absence of testes when they are nonpalpable and future fertility.     

Tuberculosis in infants less than 3 months of age

The clinical and radiological features in 38 infants less than 3 months of age with tuberculosis proved by culture are described and may aid early diagnosis of this often fatal condition. Respiratory symptoms, cough in 33 (87%) and tachypnoea in 31 (82%), were the commonest presenting symptoms. Twenty five infants (66%) had hepatomegaly and 20 (53%) splenomegaly. Mantoux testing gave an induration of > 15 mm in three of 17 (18%) infants. In a further five a Tine test gave confluent response. Chest radiography in 27 infants showed miliary tuberculosis in seven (26%) and hilar or paratracheal adenopathy in 14 (52%) and 10 (37%) respectively. Compression of either the bronchi or trachea or both was noted in 15 (56%). Detection of this complication was aided by high kilovolt radiographs. A culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was obtained from gastric aspirate in 35 (92%) infants, but positive cultures were also obtained from cerebrospinal fluid, tracheal or bronchial aspirate and liver and lymph node biopsy. Of 30 mothers evaluated seven (23) had previously unsuspected pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Comparative evaluation of microscopy,OptiMAL® and 18S rRNA gene based multiplex PCR for detection of Plasmodium falciparum & Plasmodium vivax from field isolates of Bikaner,India

ObjectiveTo evaluate microscopy, OptiMAL® and multiplex PCR for the identification of Plasmodium falciparumm (P. falciparum) and Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) from the field isolates of Bikaner, Rajasthan (Northwest India).MethodsIn this study, a multiplex PCR (P. falciparum and P. vivax) was further developed with the incorporation of Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae) specific primer and also a positive control. The performance of microscopy, plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) based malaria rapid diagnostic test OptiMAL® and 18S rRNA gene based multiplex PCR for the diagnosis of P. falciparum and P. vivax was compared.ResultsThe three species multiplex PCR (P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. malariae) with an inbuilt positive control was developed and evaluated. In comparison with multiplex PCR, which showed the sensitivity and specificity of 99.36% (95% CI, 98.11%–100.00%) and 100.00% (95% CI, 100.00%–100.00%), the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy was 90.44% (95% CI, 88.84%–95.04%) and 99.22% (95% CI, 97.71%–100.00%), and OptiMAL® was 93.58% (95% CI, 89.75%–97.42%) and 97.69% (95% CI, 95.10%–100.00%). The efficiencies were 99.65%, 95.10% and 95.45% for multiplex PCR, microscopy and OptiMAL®, respectively.ConclusionsOur results raise concerns over the overall sensitivities of microscopy and OptiMAL®, when compared to the multiplex PCR and thus stress the need for new molecular interventions in the accurate detection of the malarial parasites. This further highlights the fact that further developments are needed to improve the performance of rapid diagnostic tests at field level.