Femoral anteversion related to side differences in hip rotation: Passive rotation in 1, 140 children aged 8-9 years

We assessed whether the range of passive hip motion is reliable for predicting abnormal femoral ante-version. We measured the passive medial and lateral rotation in extension in both hips of 1, 140 children between 8 and 9 years of age. The children were divided into 3 groups: group 1: difference between lateral and medial rotation less than 10° group 2: medial rotation more than 10° greater than the lateral; group 3: lateral rotation more than 10° greater than the medial. Group 1 comprised 90% of the children, whereas 8% belonged to group 2 and 2% to group 3.

The angle of femoral neck anteversion was measured in 57 children from the first group, in 67 from the second and in 24 children from the third group, using biplane radiography. The mean anteversion angles in the 3 groups were 24°, 36° and 14°, respectively. To predict an abnormally high anteversion angle (above mean +2SD), the difference between medial and lateral rotation must be 45° or more, whereas an abnormally low anteversion angle (lower than mean -2SD) could be predicted when the lateral rotation was at least 50° higher than the medial rotation.     

A diagnostic algorithm for male genital oedema

Male genital oedema can be defined as swelling or the appearance of swelling of the scrotum and/or the penile shaft and prepuce. Despite the various causes of genital oedema reported in the published work, a concise approach to the evaluation and management has not been sufficiently addressed.     

Increased central adiposity is associated with pro-inflammatory immunoglobulin G N-glycans

Background

Increased body fat may be associated with an increased risk of developing an underlying pro-inflammatory state, thus leading to greater risk of developing certain chronic conditions. Immunoglobulin G has the ability to exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, and the N-glycosylation of the fragment crystallisable portion is involved in mediating this process. Body mass index, a rudimentary yet gold standard indication for body fat, has been shown to be associated with agalactosylated immunoglobulin G N-glycans.

Inhibition of cellular responses to insulin in a rat liver cell line. A role for PKC in insulin resistance

The initial response of liver cells to insulin is mediated through exocytosis of Cl⁻ channel-containing vesicles and a subsequent opening of plasma membrane Cl⁻ channels. Intracellular accumulation of fatty acids leads to profound defects in metabolism, and is closely associated with insulin resistance. It is not known whether the activity of Cl⁻ channels is altered in insulin resistance and by which mechanisms. We studied the effects of fatty acid accumulation on Cl⁻ channel opening in a model liver cell line. Overnight treatment with amiodarone increased the fat content by ∼2-fold, and the rates of gluconeogenesis by ∼5-fold. The ability of insulin to suppress gluconeogenesis was markedly reduced indicating that amiodarone treatment induces insulin resistance. Western blot analysis showed that these cells express the same number of insulin receptors as control cells. However, insulin failed to activate exocytosis and Cl⁻ channel opening. These inhibitory effects were mimicked in control cells by exposures to arachidonic acid (15 μ m ). Further studies demonstrated that fatty acids stimulate the PKC activity, and inhibition of PKC partially restored exocytosis and Cl⁻ channel opening in insulin-resistant cells. Accordingly, activation of PKC with PMA in control cells potently inhibited the insulin responses. These results suggest that stimulation of PKC activity in insulin resistance contributes to the inhibition of cellular responses to insulin in liver cells.     

Myoid hamartomas of the breast: report of 3 cases and review of the literature

Hamartomas were first described by Albrecht in 1904, who defined them as tumor-like malformations in which there was abnormal blending of the normal components of an organ. The myoid hamartoma is a rare benign lesion of the breast and has an uncertain origin, possibly in the walls of the blood vessels, muscularis mammillae of the areolae, and mainly in myoepithelium. We report 3 cases of myoid hamartomas of the breast, with the clinical, radiologic, and histopathological findings, and review the literature. The 3 lesions showed normal breast ducts and lobules, entrapped by a muscular stroma and some foci of mature adipose tissue. The muscular origin of part of the stroma was confirmed by strong reactiveness with smooth-muscle actin.     

Reduction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits and decrease of expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in foam cells by a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum

Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside （PMS） is a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. , one of the most famous tonic traditional Chinese medicines, that has protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the effects of PMS on macrophage-derived foam cell functions and the reduction of severity of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic New Zealand White （NZW） rabbits. NZW rabbits were fed for 12 weeks with a normal diet, a high cholesterol diet, or a high cholesterol diet associated with irrigation with different doses of PMS （25, 50, or 100 mg/kg）. Treatment of NZW rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet with 100 mg/kg PMS attenuated the increase in plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and plasma triglyceride. Treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg PMS caused 43% and 60% decrease in atherosclerotic lesioned area ratio to total surface area, respectively. In U937 foam cells, PMS could decrease the high expression of intercellular adhesion molecule （ICAM）-1 protein and the vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） protein levels in the medium induced by oxidized lipoprotein when analyzed by flow cytometry. The results proved that PMS is a powerful agent against atherosclerosis and that PMS action could possibly be through the inhibition of the expression of ICAM-1 and VEGF in foam cells.