Arthroscopic resection of dorsal wrist ganglia and treatment of recurrences

From 1995 to 1998, 30 patients with dorsal wrist ganglia and four with recurrent dorsal ganglia underwent arthroscopic resection. At a mean follow-up of 16 months, no complications were seen, but minimal pain persisted in three patients. Two recurrences were seen after arthroscopic resection of primary ganglia.     

Natural history of vertically acquired HCV infection and associated autoimmune phenomena

The natural history of vertically acquired HCV infection is ill defined. The aim of this study was to outline the natural course of vertical HCV infection in a cohort of untreated children, including rate of spontaneous viral clearance, frequency and features of HCV-related autoimmune disorders. Children with vertical HCV infection were prospectively followed from the first month of life with regular clinical and laboratory assessments. Statistical analysis was performed using Prism 5.0. Forty-five children (median age 12 years, interquartile range 6.9–15.5) were studied. Genotype 1 was predominant (53.3 %). Spontaneous viral clearance was achieved by 12 patients (26.7 %) and associated with genotype 3. Alanine-amino-transferase levels were increased in most children in the first 2 years of life with higher values in those who later cleared the infection. All children were asymptomatic for liver disease. Transient elastography (32 patients) showed mild or moderate fibrosis in nine and two cases, respectively. Non-organ-specific autoantibodies were detected in 24 children (53.3 %) independently of viremia; of these, one developed type-1 diabetes. Cryoglobulinemia was associated with genotype 1 infection and found in 15 subjects (33.3 %): two had low C4 levels and persistent proteinuria. Conclusions: Vertically acquired HCV infection may result in spontaneous clearance in up to 27 % of children. Resolution of infection is higher with genotype 3, usually occurs in preschool age and persists over time. Chronic infection is generally asymptomatic, although hepatomegaly and mild fibrosis may develop. Autoantibodies and cryoglobulins are frequent, whereas the associated clinical manifestations are rare.     

Normal exophthalmometric values in children

We used a Hertel exophthalmometer to measure the degree of ocular protrusion in 852 subjects who had no history of orbital trauma or disease, endocrine disease, severe myopia, buphthalmos, or craniofacial deformities. The subjects ranged in age from 3 to 10 years. No statistically significant difference was observed between boys and girls or between right and left eyes in each age group. The mean normal protrusion values ranged from 9.11 mm in the 3-year-old group to 11.67 mm in the 10-year-old group. The mean outer orbital margin distance ranged from 78.7 mm in the 3-year-old group to 89.1 mm in the 10-year-old group. The data obtained were tabulated to plot percentile distribution curves of normal exophthalmometric values and outer orbital margin distance in children. No subject had more than 2 mm of asymmetry between the eyes.     

Endogenous substrates of the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase increased nitric oxide production in rat white adipocytes

Inflammation Research -     

Screening of beta-thalassemia mutations by PCR and ASO analysis in an Italian population of mixed geographic origin

We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific-oligonucleotide hybridization (ASO) or restriction enzyme analysis (RE) to investigate the molecular defect in 100 Italian subjects heterozygous for beta-thalassemia, members of 50 couples at risk for the disease: 93 out of the 100 alleles studied were identified after investigating 9 known mutations. The mutation was identified in both members of the couple in 43/50 cases; in the remaining 7 couples the defect was identified only in one subject. The PCR-ASO or-RE method is a suitable, though still complex, approach to prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia in a population with heterogeneous molecular defects.     

Functional coupling of angiotensin II type 1 receptor with insulin resistance of energy substrate uptakes in immortalized cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cells)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Increased angiotensin II levels and insulin resistance coexist at the early stages of cardiomyopathies. To determine whether angiotensin II increases insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes, we studied the effect of angiotensin II on basal and insulin-stimulated transport rate of energy substrates in immortalized cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cells). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Glucose and palmitic acid uptakes were measured using [(3)H]2-deoxy-D-glucose and [(14)C]palmitic acid, respectively, in cells exposed or not exposed to angiotensin II (100 nM), angiotensin II plus irbesartan or PD123319, type 1 and 2 receptor antagonists, or PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2 activation. Cell viability, DNA, protein synthesis and surface area were evaluated by the MTT test, [(3)H]thymydine, [(3)H]leucine and morphometric analysis, respectively. Type 1 receptor levels were measured by western blot analysis. KEY RESULTS: Basal uptakes of glucose and palmitic acid by HL-1 cells (0.37+/-0.07 and 7.31+/-0.22 pmol per 10(4)cells per min, respectively) were both stimulated by 100 nM insulin (+91 and +64%, respectively). Cells exposed to angiotensin II remained viable and did not show signs of hypertrophy. In these conditions, the basal palmitic acid uptake of the cells increased (11.41+/-0.46 pmol per 10(4) cells per min) and insulin failed to stimulate the uptake of glucose and fatty acids. Changes in the rate of uptake of energy substrates were prevented or significantly reduced by irbesartan or PD98059. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Angiotensin II is a candidate for increasing insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes. Our results suggest a further mechanism for the cardiovascular protection offered by the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers.     

Conservative management of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Fifty-nine children 1 to 24 months of age with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNDO) were treated with local hydrostatic massage and antibiotic eye drops. Children 1 to 12 months of age showed a cure rate of 93.3%; only two of them underwent nasolacrimal probing. Children 13 to 24 months of age had a cure rate of 79.3%, and six underwent probing. The initial probings were successful in both age groups. Fifty-one children (86.4%) were thus spared nasolacrimal probing.