Zinc and magnesium in liver cirrhosis

Abstract. The Authors determined zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) in the plasma, urine, erythrocytes (RBCs), mono- and polymorphonuclear cells (MNCs and PMNs) of patients with overt alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. In order to obtain a clearer clinical picture, biochemical and nutritional parameters (retinol, tocopherol, six different carotenoids, creatinine-height index and tricipital skinfold), as well as markers of portal hypertension (spleno-portal size and platelet count) were also evaluated.
The plasma levels of Zn and Mg were found to be reduced, as were the urine levels of Mg. Urine Zn, on the other hand, was higher than normal. Plasma Zn correlated inversely, and urine Zn directly, with the severity of the disease, rather than with alcohol consumption or treatment with diuretics. Protein metabolism impairment would appear to affect the plasma transport of Zn rather than its overall availability in the organism; the opposite was found in the case of Mg, the availability of which appeared to be reduced. Determination of the two elements in RBCs, MNCs and PMNs suggested that a true nutritional deficit cannot be demonstrated. MNCs, rather than RBCs or PMNs seem better to reflect tissue status of trace elements.     

Rejuvenation in the early 20th century

Summary. The first theoretical reflections concerning the relation of hormone production with the ageing process stemmed from Charles Edouard Brown-Sequard (1817–1894). At the age of 72 years he experimented on himself with an injection of animal testicular extract.
The Viennese physiologist Eugen Steinach (1861–1944) gained world-wide acknowledgement for his theory of 'autoplastic' treatment of ageing. He deduced that after vasoligation, an increased incretory hormonal production would ensue following the cessation of the secretory output of the gonads. The first operation was performed in 1918 and resulted in a vasectomy boom over the next two decades.
The Russian Serge Voronoff (1866–1951), working in Paris, was one of the first to transplant testicular tissue from a monkey into a human reproductive gland in 1920. Five years later he had already performed this procedure on 300 patients and attracted patients from all over the world.
In America early efforts of human testicular transplantation were performed by Frank Lydston and V.D. Lespinasse. Steinach's vasoligation was taken over by many American doctors, e.g., Harry Benjamin and Charles H. Chetwood. Among the patients who underwent a rejuvenation operation according to Steinach's method were Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) and the Irish poet and Nobel Prize winner William Butler Yeats (1865–1939). Two caricatures from the German magazine Simplicissimus published in 1927, confirm that the rejuvenation operations were constantly in the limelight of the printed media. From 1935 onwards rejuvenation operations gradually lost their appeal due to the introduction of artificial androgens.     

Mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrenyl-1-sulfate in the Ames test.

Comparison of the mutagenicity of nine isomeric benzo(a)pyrenyl [B(a)P] phenols conjugated with either sulfate or glucuronide was carried out using strain Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Of the nine conjugates tested, only B(a)P-1-sulfate was mutagenic. Accordingly, the mutagenicity of B(a)P-1-sulfate was compared with that of B(a)P and 1-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P-1-OH] in the presence and absence of rat lung S9 and Aroclor-induced liver S9 with and without an NADPH-generating system. B(a)P-1-sulfate was slightly mutagenic, whereas B(a)P and the 1-hydroxy derivative were nonmutagenic when S9 fractions and NADPH were omitted. Addition of induced liver S9 with NADPH caused mutagenicity with B(a) -1-OH greater than B(a)P greater than B(a)P-1-sulfate. B(a)P-1-sulfate was the only mutagenic species when lung S9 was added. This mutagenicity did not require NADPH. Sodium sulfite, an inhibitor of arylsulfatase, decreased the mutagenicity of B(a)P-1-sulfate. These data suggest that a unique mutagenic species is generated from B(a)P-1-sulfate via arylsulfatase in rat lung.     

Laparoscopic treatment of nonparasitic cysts of the liver with omental transposition flap

Background: Between 1991 and November 1994, 18 patients with large, solitary, nonparasitic liver cysts underwent laparoscopic deroofing; the last 13 of them also received an omental transposition flap in addition. Methods: Using three to four trocars, the cystic contents were first aspirated, and the cyst derooted widely using diathermia. An omental transposition flap was fashioned and stapled into the cyst cavity itself. Results: Postoperative complications included one case of pulmonary atelectasis. Another patient developed a subhepatic bile collection which was aspirated percutaneously. On average, patients were discharged on the 4th (2–14) postoperative day. Follow-up was performed with abdominal ultrasound for 2–43 months (mean 19 months). There were two early cyst recurrences, both in cases without an omental transposition flap (overall recurrence rate, 11%; in patients with omental flap, 0). Conclusions: Deroofing in combination with an omental transposition flap is a safe and effective therapy for symptomatic solitary liver cysts and can be performed using minimal-access surgical techniques. Received: 19 January 1996/Accepted: 26 August 1996     

Graft versus graft and graft versus host reactions after HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency with transplacentally acquired lymphoid chimerism

We describe a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency and transplacental transfer of maternal T cells who received an unfractionated HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplant without prior conditioning. He presented prior to transplantation with a dermatitis later diagnosed as mild graft versus host disease. He had a normal absolute lymphocyte count, but proliferative responses to mitogens were very low. Antigens of the noninherited maternal HLA haplotype were detected on his blood lymphocytes. After transplantation, he developed a severe reaction including fever, cutaneous erythema and hepatosplenomegaly. Lymphocytes carrying the noninherited maternal HLA haplotype disappeared from his circulation, and his unprimed mononuclear cells became spontaneously cytotoxic to maternal lymphoblasts. He subsequently developed a lymphocytosis of 69,000/mm³, diarrhea, elevated transaminases and a worsening rash, necessitating treatment with immunosuppressive agents. Full T-cell engraftment and evidence of B-cell function later ensued and spontaneously cytotoxic lymphocytes against maternal cells disappeared by 47 days post-transplantation. We postulate that the patient's constellation of signs and symptoms after transplantation represented a combination of severe graft versus graft and mild graft versus host reactions.     

大剂量卡铂化疗的药物毒性观察

6例肺癌患者接受了大剂量卡铂并自体骨髓移植治疗 ,卡铂剂量从 5 60～ 1375 mg/ m2 ,5例加用 VP～ 1630 0 mg,1例并用 MMC6mg和 VCR2 mg;主要毒性反应为白细胞、中性粒细胞、血小板减少和脱发 ( WHO毒性反应 ～ 级 )其次是贫血、皮肤粘膜出血、呕吐和可逆性肝功能损害 ,口腔粘膜溃疡及轻度发烧各 2例 ,一过性蛋白尿、室上性心动过速和便秘各 1例 ,尿素氮和肌酐未见升高 ;全部患者骨髓均获解救 ,从自体骨髓回输到骨髓造血功能重建成功平均 2 6.67( 17～ 32 )天     

Intraosseous ganglion about to cause a fracture of the glenoid: a case report

Intraosseous ganglia of the glenoid are rare, and their etiology is unknown. This report describes a case of an intraosseous ganglion about to cause fracture of the glenoid. The patient was a 61-year-old woman with a painful left shoulder with a limited range of motion. Her symptoms did not improve after non-operative treatment. Arthroscopic examination showed a cartilage defect and erosion in the posteroinferior portion of the glenoid, behind which computed tomography (CT) showed a cystic lesion of the glenoid. There was no communication between the cyst and the joint space. The patient was treated by curettage and an autogenous cancellous bone graft from the iliac crest. Two years after the operation, the patient was almost free from pain, and CT showed good integration of the bone graft.     

IL-2-PE40体外抑制γ-干扰素诱导的角膜内皮细胞MHC抗原表达的研究

目的了解正常大鼠角膜内皮细胞在体外经γ-干扰素诱导后，主要组织相容性复合体（major histoeompatibility complex，MHC）-Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原异常表达的情况。并观察比较白细胞介素-2-绿脓杆菌外毒素（interleukin-2-pseudomonas exotoxin40。IL-2-PE40）、环胞霉素A（cyclosporine A，CsA）对角膜内皮细胞MHC-Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原异常表达的免疫抑制作用。方法采用ACAS-570黏附式细胞分析仪和免疫荧光技术，对体外原代培养经γ-干扰素诱导后的正常大鼠角膜内皮细胞分成A、B2组进行MHC-Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原表达的相对量测定，并在培养液中加入新型免疫抑制剂IL-2-PE40和CsA，进一步测定角膜内皮细胞MHC-Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原的表达量。结果未加入γ-干扰素前，MHC-Ⅰ类抗原的表达量为97．8±8．1，MHC-Ⅱ类抗原无表达；经γ-干扰素诱导后，MHC—Ⅰ类抗原的表达量为1006．3±13．2，MHC-Ⅱ类抗原表达量为406．5±10．5，γ-干扰素加入前后MHC-Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原比较均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。IL-2．PE40组MHC-Ⅰ类抗原的表达量为618．2±13．5，MHC-Ⅱ类抗原表达量为204．5±7．8，CsA组MHC-Ⅰ类抗原的表达量为609．5±12．9，MHC-Ⅱ类抗原表达量为198．5±6．9，IL-2．PE40组、CsA组分别与注射用水比较，MHC—Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原间均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。IL-2．PE40组与CsA组比较．MHC—Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论在体外，γ-干扰素可诱导角膜内皮细胞MHC-Ⅰ、Ⅱ类抗原异常表达；IL-2-PE40及CsA均能不同程度的抑制这种表达。[眼科新进展20ff7；27（3）：170．172]