Human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral squamous cell papillomas

One hundred and forty oral squamous cell papillomas (SCPs) were subjected to immunocytochemical staining for papillomavirus antigen using the immunoperoxidase-PAP method 41% of the oral squamous papillomas showed positive intranuclear staining, 50% were negative and the remaining 9% showed both intranuclear and cytoplasmic staining. In view of these findings it is suggested that a review of the etiology of lesions diagnosed as oral SCPs should be considered.     

Epidemiological considerations of the present status and future growth of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic in South Africa

Limited epidemiological data on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have been assembled by voluntarily reported AIDS figures, blood donor serum prevalence and high-risk sentinel population and random background population sero-prevalence studies. The HIV epidemic in South Africa can thus be shown to consist of four separate epidemics of which the heterosexual epidemic will undoubtedly constitute the major growth in this country. Intervention must be directed to shrinking the promiscuous core which sustains this epidemic by directing attention at female prostitution and limiting the reproductive rate of the epidemic by energetic and professionally directed education at an early stage of a child's school career. Sexually transmitted diseases will play a major role in the determination of the extent of the heterosexual epidemic.     

A comparison of three minimally invasive cardiac output devices with thermodilution in elective cardiac surgery

This study compared the cardiac output responses to haemodynamic interventions as measured by three minimally invasive monitors (Oesophageal Doppler Monitor the VigileoFlotrac and the LiDCOrapid) to the responses measured concurrently using thermodilution, in cardiac surgical patients. The study also assessed the precision and bias of these monitors in relation to thermodilution measurements. After a fluid bolus of at least 250 ml, the measured change in cardiac output was different among the devices, showing an increase with thermodilution in 82% of measurements, Oesophageal Doppler Monitor 68%, VigileoFlotrac 57% and LiDCOrapid 41%. When comparing the test devices to thermodilution, the kappa statistic showed at best only fair agreement, Oesophageal Doppler Monitor 0.34, LiDCOrapid 0.28 and VigileoFlotrac -0.03. After vasopressor administration, there was also significant variation in the change in cardiac output measured by the devices. Using Bland-Altman analysis, the precision of the devices in comparison to thermodilution showed minimal bias, but wide limits of agreement with percentage errors of Oesophageal Doppler Monitor 64.5%, VigileoFlotrac 47.6% and LiDCOrapid 54.2%. These findings indicate that these three devices differ in their responses, do not always provide the same information as thermodilution and should not be used interchangeably to track cardiac output changes.     

Myocardial rescue with autologous mitochondrial transplantation in a porcine model of ischemia/reperfusion

Objective

To demonstrate the clinical efficacy of autologous mitochondrial transplantation in preparation for translation to human application using an in vivo swine model.

Sequential cohort study of Dacron patch closure following carotid endarterectomy

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy reduces the risk of stroke and death in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis. This study examined whether the technique used to close the arteriotomy influenced the rate of perioperative transient ischaemic attack (TIA), stroke or death. METHODS: A cohort of 236 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy at a single centre was studied; 117 patients had primary closure of the arteriotomy and 119 patients in a sequential series had closure with a Dacron patch. A standard endarterectomy with completion intraoperative duplex imaging and digital subtraction angiography was used throughout. RESULTS: Patch closure was associated with a significant reduction in the 30-day combined death, stroke and TIA rate: 10.3 per cent for primary closure versus 2.5 per cent for patch closure (P = 0.017). The risk of any cerebral event (stroke or TIA) was also significantly reduced (7.7 versus 1.7 per cent; P = 0.033). Residual stenosis on completion angiography was more common after primary closure (24.6 versus 7.4 per cent; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Dacron patch closure had a higher technical success rate on completion imaging and was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of perioperative stroke, TIA and death.     

Mapping of the X linked form of hyper IgM syndrome (HIGM1)

X linked immunodeficiency with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia M (HIGM1), which is characterised by agammaglobulinaemia together with excess IgM production reflecting an impairment of the immunoglobulin heavy chain class switch of B lymphocytes, has been mapped to Xq26. We report multipoint linkage data in six families with HIGM1 which show that the most likely position for the gene is close to HPRT with a maximum lod score of 4.89. The finding of recombinations between HIGM1 and both HPRT and DXS42 implies that HIGM1 is not allelic to X linked lymphoproliferative disease. These data will be useful in genetic counselling in families and will also be useful in testing candidate genes.