Pyomyositis - clinical and MRI characteristics report of three cases

We report three patients with pyomyositis due to Staphylococcus aureus. Magnetic resonance imaging aided in the accurate diagnosis of the infection and of the extent of involvement. Incision, drainage and antibiotic therapy eradicated the infection in all the patients. We suggest clinical or subclinical bacteraemic seeding of the diseased muscle, as the most likely mechanism for pyomyositis.     

Children with Autism Experience Problems with Both Objects and People

Kanner (1943), in his classic account, described autism as a specific impairment in interpersonal relations which leaves the child's uses of objects relatively unaffected. This combination of the difficulties in relating to people and the supposedly excellent relations to objects figures centrally within many of the current theories of autism, which have had relatively little to say on the question of object use. This paper draws attention to evidence of widespread impairments in relating to objects, not only in interpersonal aspects of object use but also in early sensorimotor exploration and the functional and conventional uses of objects. In stressing these problems with objects, our purpose is not to downplay the social dimension of autism, but rather to highlight the reciprocal nature of the interactions between the child, other people, and objects. Given the evidence that other people play an important role in introducing objects to children, we propose that an impairment in interpersonal relations should itself lead us to expect corresponding disruption in the autistic child's use of objects. Conversely, an unusual use of objects is likely to manifest itself in disturbances in relating to other people, given the importance of a shared understanding and use of objects in facilitating interaction.     

Novel antidiabetic and hypolipidemic agents. 5. Hydroxyl versus benzyloxy containing chroman derivatives.

Several thiazolidinediones having chroman moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their euglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. Some of the analogues having an aminoalkyl group as a linker between the chroman ring and 4-[5-(2,4-dioxo-1, 3-thiazolidinyl)methyl]phenoxy moiety seem to be better than troglitazone. In vitro transactivation assays of PPARgamma have been carried out with these glitazones to understand their molecular mechanism. For the first time we have found that some of the unsaturated thiazolidinediones are superior to their saturated counterpart in the in vivo assay. A more potent thiazolidinedione analogue than troglitazone is reported. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that protection of the OH group in the chroman moiety leads to a decrease in metabolism, thereby resulting in a superior pharmacological profile.     

Risk factors in dental implant failure

The goal of this study was to assess risk factors for dental implant failure. Eighty-three implants were placed in thirty patients who were followed for three years using digital subtraction radiography. The following putative risk factors for implant failure were employed in the model: age, sex, implant length, implant position, implant surface coating, smoking habit, and presence of infection. Implant failure was defined as progressive bone loss compromising the implant. We found that the presence of infection (P < 0.001) and absence of HA coating (P < 0.001) were the primary factors associated with early implant failure.     

Risk factors for retinopathy in diabetes mellitus in Kelantan, Malaysia

Few attempts have been made to determine the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy which is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. One hundred and forty patients of diabetes mellitus were studied to determine the prevalence and types of retinopathy, and its relation to various risk factors. Nearly half (48.6%) of the patients suffered from retinopathy. The significant associated risk factors were long duration of diabetes, proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine level. However, there was no significant association between the prevalence of retinopathy and high levels of serum cholesterol, C-peptide levels, associated hypertension, and glycaemic control of diabetes mellitus. An effective screening programme for detection of retinopathy in the patients of diabetes as a regular practice is encouraged.     

Mechanism of activation of an N-ras oncogene of SW-1271 human lung carcinoma cells.

An N-ras-related transforming gene was detected in the human lung carcinoma cell line SW-1271 and molecularly cloned. The lesion responsible for its acquisition of transforming activity was localized to a single nucleotide transition from A to G in codon 61 of the predicted protein. This lesion in the second exon results in the substitution of arginine for glutamine at this position. These findings, together with previous studies, indicate that the activation of ras oncogenes in human tumors is most commonly due to point mutations at one of two major "hot spots" in the ras coding sequence.     

Effect of chronic tobacco-betel-lime "quid" chewing on human salivary secretions

Salivary flow rates by mechanical stimulation with forced spitting method and by chemical stimulation with 10% citric acid were determined in 25 healthy adult subjects with a history of chronic tobacco-betel-lime "quid" chewing and in 25 healthy control adults with no history of chewing. The chewers secreted more saliva as compared to nonchewers on chemical, but not on mechanical stimulation. The salivary amylase, potassium, and sodium levels were lower in chewers, but the reductions of the first two components only were significant. These reductions were thought to be due to increased salivary flow with its dilutional effect. There was no difference between the two groups with respect to salivary pH. The salivary flow rates by either method had significant positive correlation with the duration of chewing, but not with the amount of tobacco chewed. Salivary potassium was inversely correlated with the amount of tobacco chewed. It was concluded that chronic tobacco-betel-lime quid chewing induces excessive secretion of more watery saliva leading to a concomitant decrease in enzyme and electrolyte content. One or more of the following factors were considered to be operating in causing increased salivary flow in chewers effect of nicotine or tobacco on other constituents of the quid, chronic salivary gland hyperplasia, or chronic hypertrophy of the muscles of mastication.     

Histogenesis of pseudo-ductular changes induced in the pancreas of guinea pigs treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

Tumors of the exocrine pancreas of the inbred strain 13 guinea pigs, induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, reveal duct-like glandular differentiation and marked desmoplastic reaction of the stroma, characteristic of adenocarcinoma of human pancreas. During the course of induction of these tumors in the guinea pigs by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, atypical pseudo-ductular proliferations were encountered in the pancreas which appeared to be precursor lesions for pancreatic carcinoma. The histogenesis of these pseudo-ductular lesions was studied by light and electron microscopy. The earliest changes consisted of dilatation of acinar lumina with decrease of apical cytoplasm and increased mitotic activity of the acinar cells. The actively proliferating, well-formed pseudo-ductules were lined by cuboidal or flattened epithelium containing a prominent nucleus and scant cytoplasm with few or no discernible zymogen granules by light microscopy. By electron microscopy, the cells lining the pseudo-ductules displayed features of immature or embryonic pancreatic acinar cells characterized by prominent nucleoli, marked decrease in rough endoplasmic reticulum with increase of free ribosomes, atypical zymogen granules and abundant microfilaments and microtubules. In two guinea pigs, transition from pseudo-ductular changes to adenocarcinoma was clearly evident. On the basis of these findings, it is proposed that the pseudo-ductular lesions of the guinea pig pancreas, and possibly those occuring in other species, are derived from acinar cells as a consequence of carcinogen induced cell proliferation leading to immature or dedifferentiated phenotypes. This hypothesis can, in part, be confirmed by immunocytochemical localization of pancreatic acinar cell specific secretory proteins and lectins in these pseudo-ductules.