Neonatal thrombosis of the jugular veins: long-term repercussions on cerebral development (two cases)

Bilateral obstruction of the internal jugular veins is rare in the neonatal period and no long-term follow-up has been reported yet. We report two cases. The first developped an extensive thrombosis of superior veina cava related to a central veinous line, the second an unilateral thrombosis of the transverse-sigmoid sinus associated to a constitutional hypoplasia of the contralateral jugular vein. In the latter case, no cause or risk factor was noticeable, except for a forceps delivery. In both cases the clinical course was dominated by the development of a prominent collateral network of cervico-facial veins and by a progressive macrocrania. According to MRImaging, the latter was not related to a dilation of CSF spaces, but to a macro-encephaly, either by inflation of the vascular veinous compartment inside the parenchyma or by genuine brain's overgrowth. Long-term follow-up showed a grossly normal course, both from the neurological and the scholar point of view. However, slight neuropsychological anomalies were noticed, bringing some shade on the prognosis.     

Bradycardic responses to microinjection of N-methyl-D-aspartate into the nucleus tractus solitarius are inhibited by local activation of 5-HT(3) receptors

Previous reports have described that glutamate ionotropic receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) are involved in the reflex control of heart rate, and that such a control can be inhibited by NTS-5-HT(3) receptor stimulation. In the present study, we examined in urethane anaesthetized rats the effects of intra-NTS microinjection of 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide (CPBG), a potent and selective 5-HT(3) receptor agonist, on the cardiovascular responses to local administration of glutamate ionotropic receptor agonists. Intra-NTS microinjection of CPBG reduced the atropine-sensitive bradycardia elicited by local microinjection of NMDA without affecting the cardiovascular responses to intra-NTS microinjections of AMPA or kainic acid. The reduction by CPBG of the NMDA-evoked cardiac response was blocked by prior intra-NTS microinjection of granisetron, a 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, as well as bicuculline, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist. These results suggest that the stimulation of NTS 5-HT(3) receptors specifically reduces, via a GABA-dependent mechanism, the cardiac response to local NMDA administration.     

Prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in the Diourbel, Fatick, and Kaolack regions of Senegal: a controlled study

Two hundred and six Senegalese preschool children included in an epidemiological study were selected by their results from impression cytology with transfer (ICT) for assessment of their nutritional state by means of biological variables and for assessment of the diagnostic values of the ICT. A problem of protein-calorie malnutrition existed (transthyretin and retinol-binding protein concentrations were low) associated with vitamin A deficiency (retinol concentrations were low). The sensitivity and specificity of the ICT defined with respect to retinol (threshold fixed at 0.35 mumol/L) varied with the classification criteria of ICT and seemed to be fairly insensitive but specific.     

Anti-peripheral nerve antibodies in leprosy patients recognize an epitope shared by the M. leprae 65 kDa heat shock protein.

Binding of leprosy sera to peripheral nerve from different species (mouse, guinea pig and rabbit) was evaluated by ELISA. A majority of sera, whatever the clinical form of leprosy, bind to these antigens. Absorption with Mycobacterium bovis BCG demonstrated that these antibodies recognize cross-reactive epitopes between peripheral nerve and mycobacteria. In immunoblot analysis, both leprosy patient sera and a monoclonal antibody directed at the 65 kDa heat shock protein of M. leprae were shown to react with a heat-shock 67-68 kDa sciatic nerve protein. Binding of the monoclonal antibody to this sciatic nerve antigen was prevented by incubation with lepromatous patient sera, showing that some peripheral nerve epitopes recognized by patient antibodies are shared by the 65 kDa heat shock protein of M. leprae.     

The proportion of medical consultations motivated by skin diseases in the health centers of Bamako (Republic of Mali)

Background Skin diseases have recently been identified as a public health problem in developing countries. However, most studies on skin diseases in developing countries have been conducted in specialized dermatologic centers. Data on the proportion of consultations motivated by skin diseases in nonspecialized health centers in developing countries are scarce. In order to appreciate the request for dermatologic care of the population of a developing African country, we attempted to measure this proportion in health centers of Bamako, the capital of Mali. Methods Eight out-patient health centers were randomly selected in Bamako, and the medical registers for the first 6 months of 1993 were consulted. Results Out of a total of 14,058 consultations given, 1639 (11.7%) were motivated by skin diseases. The main diagnoses registered were pyoderma (42.2% of all the dermatologic diagnoses), eczema (15.5%), scabies (8.5%), and fungal infections (7.9%). Conclusions The high proportion of ambulatory consultations in health centers in Bamako motivated by skin diseases suggests that they are an important health problem for the population of this city. Public health policies should be Implemented in order to manage this problem.     

Effects of the combination of a pesticide, lindane, and a sulfur depleted diet on pregnancy in the rat]

Effects of assocation of lindane ingestion and sulfur depletion on pregnancy in the rat. Sulfoconjugation stands as one of the main processes of foreign compound detoxication in mammals. When feeding conditions are adequate, sulfate ions necessary to form sulfoconjugates are provided by the sulfur aminoacids of the diet. The feeding to pregnant rats of a diet containing lindane, when sulfur aminoacids are limiting factors, should lead to competition between their utilisation for anabolic or detoxifying processes. The balance between stimulation of glucuroconjugation and sulfoconjugation seems to depend on which of the 2 compounds necessary for detoxification is the most limiting factor. Glucuroconjugation spares sulfur aminoacids for foetal growth; sulfoconjugation spares glucose for foetal utilisation. The foetal needs appear to modulate the orientation of the maternal detoxication processes; foetal anabolism is predominent over detoxication.     

Genetic determinants of childhood leukemia

Pediatric cancers affect approximately 1 in every 500 children before the age of 15. Little is known about the etiology of this heterogeneous group of diseases despite the fact they constitute the major cause of death by disease among this population. Because of its relatively high prevalence, most of the work done in pediatric oncogenetics has been focused on leukemias, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although it is now well accepted that genetic variations play a significant role in determining individual's cancer susceptibility, few studies have explored genetic susceptibility to childhood leukemia with respect to common polymorphisms. The biochemical and genetic mechanisms contributing to cancer susceptibility are numerous and can be grouped into broad categories: 1) cellular growth and differentiation, 2) DNA replication and repair, 3) metabolism of carcinogens, 4) apoptosis, 5) oxidative stress response and 6) cell cycle. To evaluate whether candidate genes in these pathways are involved in childhood leukemogenesis, we conducted association studies. We showed that leukemogenesis in children may be associated with DNA variants in some of these genes and that the combination of genotypes seems to be more predictive of risk then either of them independently. We also observed that, at least at some loci, the parental genetics might be important in predicting the risk of cancer in this pediatric model of a complex disease. Taken together, these results indicate that the investigation of a single enzyme and/or a single genotype might not be sufficient to explain the etiology of childhood leukemia because of the complexity of the environment and that of the inter-individual variability in cancer susceptibility.     

Action of androgens in the anuran amphibian Discoglossus pictus (Otth). III. Effects of castration and action of androgens on the ultrastructure of the seminal vesicle

The effects of insulin on Schistosomatium douthitti were examined in 8-hr in vitro trials. Insulin caused an increase in oxygen uptake by S. douthitti males, females, and cercariae, as well as by an unidentified strigeoid cercarial species. Significantly greater amounts of glucose were taken up by insulin-treated than by control schistosomes (p < 0.025). Exogenous glucose enhanced oxygen consumption of S. douthitti adults (both males and females) and cereariac.