Longitudinal study of cyclosporine and lipids in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation

The metabolic effects of intravenous cyclosporine on lipids and lipoproteins were studied in 29 allogeneic bone marrow recipients compared with 13 autologous bone marrow patients not requiring cyclosporine therapy. Patients were monitored continuously from 5 days prior to 27 days following transplantation; cyclosporine treatment was initiated 4 days before transplantation. Fasting lipid and lipoprotein levels were measured in serial blood samples throughout the study period. Nutritional supplementation, conditioning regimens and concomitant medications were not significantly different between groups. Furthermore, no significant differences in age, weight, lipid, or lipoprotein levels were found at baseline between the patient groups. Cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained unchanged in autologous patients. As compared with baseline values, plasma total cholesterol increased by an average of 26 percent in allogeneic transplantation patients receiving cyclosporine. Similarly, the ratio of low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was fourfold greater in those patients treated with cyclosporine compared to the autologous group. We conclude that cyclosporine appears to elevate cholesterol levels. Neither acute graft vs host disease nor changes in hepatic function could explain the differences in plasma cholesterol levels between groups.     

Significance of corrective growth of opposite physes in the surgical correction of deformity following epiphyseal injury around the knee joint

Deformation due to growth disturbance after epiphyseal fractures around the knee may involve more than the primarily injured epiphysis, as spontaneous corrective growth of the opposite epiphyseal plate can take place in an attempt to maintain overall alignment of the leg. As a result, there will be an inclination in the knee joint line if corrective osteotomy is only performed for the primary angulation. We report two cases of this complex deformity in which corrective osteotomies of both the distal femur and the proximal tibia were performed, resulting in correct alignment of the overall leg axis and knee joint axis. Received: 25 May 1996 Accepted: 20 November 1996     

Progesterone effect on intracellular inorganic sulphate in uterine epithelial cells

The effect of progesterone on the available intracellular sulphate pool in subcultured glandular epithelial cells from guinea-pig endometrium is reported. Progesterone in concert with 17 beta-estradiol was shown to cause an increase in the available intracellular sulphate pool. The maximum effect was obtained for 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M progesterone. This effect of progesterone on the available intracellular sulphate pool essentially concerned the intracellular inorganic sulphate and was inhibited by the antiprogesterone steroid RU 486 (5 x 10(-7) M). Sulphate incorporation into the endometrial epithelial cells was suppressed by the inhibitor of anion transport diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. These results would suggest that a sulphate transport system may be involved in the accumulation of the intracellular sulphate, stimulated by progesterone. This phenomenon could be an early process in the preparation of the endometrium for implantation.     

New implantable device for long-term vascular access in children.

We report on our experience in the use of a new system of a totally implantable device for repeated vascular access in children, developed in 1989 by Pharmacia and named P.A.S. Port (Peripheral Access System Port). The P.A.S. Port is far smaller than other systems and has been designed for peripheral location in the arm. This avoids unsightly pectoral scars particularly in girls and allows insertion under local anesthesia. It is an interesting alternative to the Port-a-Cath for children older than 5 years of age. It is easily accepted by the patient as well as by the caring team.     

Acute fatal myeloencephalopathy after combined intrathecal chemotherapy in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We report a case of a fatal toxic encephalomyelopathy in a 12-year-old girl due to prophylactic intrathecal injection of methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside, with a characteristic progressive symptomatology leading to death after 28 days. The location and type of neuropathological changes support the hypothesis of a direct toxic effect of methotrexate and/or cytosine arabinoside on structures directly exposed to the cerebrospinal fluid.     

Natural killer cell activity and CSF monoamine metabolites in suicide attempters

The aim of this study was to investigate markers of serotonin and immune function in suicidal patients. Cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells (NK) and CD16 lymphocytes were studied in 28 suicide attempters and 26 healthy controls, and related in patients to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Patients with CSF 5-HIAA below the median had significantly lower NK cell activity than other patients. CD16 cell frequency was significantly lower in patients than in controls, and patients also tended to have lower NK cell cytotoxicity than healthy controls. There were no statistically significant correlations between 4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl glycol (HMPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), CSF cortisol and NK cell activity. The results support the hypothesis of compromised immune function in suicidal patients with evidence of disordered serotonin function.     

Age and gender interactions on verbal memory performance.

Age and gender effects on verbal episodic memory are well established. However, the possibility of interactions between age and gender has been raised by studies linking estrogen and verbal memory performance, and by research suggesting gender differences in age-related cortical atrophy. We evaluated whether age by gender interactions in verbal memory were present. Subjects within three years of the median age of menopause were excluded from a large cohort of normal subjects, resulting in a younger sample (16-47 years) of 288 men and 285 women, and an older sample (55-89 years) of 201 men and 245 women. All subjects were administered the CVLT-2, a multiple-trial list-learning task. Verbal memory was negatively correlated with age for younger men, older men, and older women, but not for younger women. Multivariate analyses indicated age by gender interactions on memory for the younger group but not the older group. Results indicate that verbal memory declines with age for younger men but not younger women, whereas both older men and older women show age-related declines. These findings are consistent with hypotheses linking estrogen and verbal memory performance, and with imaging data suggesting that age-related hippocampal atrophy is found in younger men but not younger women. The role of estrogen on cognition in normal aging warrants further study.     

The effects of alcohol and benzodiazepines on the severity of ski accidents.

Urine samples from 402 victims of ski accidents were analyzed for the presence of benzodiazepines (BZD) and alcohol. Eighty-one (20%) samples were positive for alcohol; BZD were detected in 34 (8.5%) cases. Ten of the samples (2.5%) were found to be positive for both alcohol and BZD. Subjects who were positive for either alcohol or BZD or both were older than the other persons examined. The prevalence of alcohol was significantly higher among male accident victims. BZD intake could be demonstrated to have a significant influence on the severity of injuries. Besides an increased awareness of the need for skier education regarding drug use, heightened attention of medical caregivers is warranted to inform their patients about potential accident hazards in sport activities when BZD are prescribed.