Testicular feminization syndrome. Four case reports with a brief review of the literature

Four cases of testicular feminization syndrome in Ethiopian patients are described. All four patients had normal female breasts, scanty pubic and axillary hair and absent internal genital organs. Three had bilateral inguinal or labial masses. The main features of their clinical presentation and histological studies are briefly discussed with a review of the literature.     

A comparison of the potency of the oxime HLö-7 and currently used oximes (HI-6, pralidoxime, obidoxime) to reactivate nerve agent-inhibited rat brain acetylcholinesterase by in vitro methods

(1) The efficacy of the oxime HL?7 and currently used oximes (pralidoxime, obidoxime, HI-6) to reactivate acetylcholinesterase inhibited by various nerve agents (sarin, tabun, cyclosarin, VX) was tested by in vitro methods. (2) Both H oximes (HL?-7, HI-6) were found to be more efficacious reactivators of sarin and VX-inhibited acetylcholinesterase than pralidoxime and obidoxime. On the other hand, their potency to reactivate tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase is very low and does not reach the reactivating efficacy of obidoxime. In the case of cyclosarin, the oxime HI-6 was only found to be able to sufficiently reactivate cyclosarin-inhibited acetylcholinesterase in vitro. (3) Thus, the oxime HL?-7 does not seem to be more efficacious reactivator of nerve agent-inhibited acetylcholinesterase than HI-6 according to in vitro evaluation of their reactivation potency and, therefore, it is not more suitable to be introduced for antidotal treatment of nerve agent-exposed people than HI-6.     

HIV Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Men Who have Sex with Men (MSM) in New Jersey,U.S., 2017

AIDS and Behavior - This study assessed the HIV prevalence among MSM in the greater Newark New Jersey area including Essex, Hudson, Morris and Union Counties and examined correlates of HIV...     

Adult-onset deletion of Pten increases islet mass and beta cell proliferation in mice

Aims/hypothesis

Adult beta cells have a diminished ability to proliferate. Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a lipid phosphatase that antagonises the function of the mitogenic phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. The objective of this study was to understand the role of PTEN and PI3K signalling in the maintenance of beta cells postnatally.

Methods

We developed a Pten ^lox/lox; Rosa26 ^lacZ; RIP-CreER ⁺ model that permitted us to induce Pten deletion by treatment with tamoxifen in mature animals. We evaluated islet mass and function as well as beta cell proliferation in 3- and 12-month-old mice treated with tamoxifen (Pten deleted) vs mice treated with vehicle (Pten control).

Results

Deletion of Pten in juvenile (3-month-old) beta cells significantly induced their proliferation and increased islet mass. The expansion of islet mass occurred concomitantly with the enhanced ability of the Pten-deleted mice to maintain euglycaemia in response to streptozotocin treatment. In older mice (>12 months of age), deletion of Pten similarly increased islet mass and beta cell proliferation. This novel finding suggests that PTEN-regulated mechanisms may override the age-onset diminished ability of beta cells to respond to mitogenic stimulation. We also found that proteins regulating G1/S cell-cycle transition, such as cyclin D1, cyclin D2, p27 and p16, were altered when PTEN was lost, suggesting that they may play a role in PTEN/PI3K-regulated beta cell proliferation in adult tissue.

Conclusions/interpretation

The signals regulated by the PTEN/PI3K pathway are important for postnatal maintenance of beta cells and regulation of their proliferation in adult tissues.     

Successful unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is a chronic, progressive neurodevelopmental disorder causing motor and behavioral dysfunction due to decreased synthesis of the enzyme hypoxantine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). Affected boys have mental retardation, delayed development, extrapyramidal motor disturbances and self-injuring behavior. As hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been shown to be effective in several neurodevelopmental inborn errors, we hypothesized that it could be favorable in LNS as well. Following a myeloablative conditioning regimen (busulphan 3.2 mg/kg/day for 4 days, cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/day for 2 days with ATG Thymoglobin 2.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days) an unrelated umbilical cord blood unit was transfused at the age of 2 years. The graft was a 6/6 HLA-matched at HLA-A, B loci by antigen level, and at DRB1 by allelic level typing. Infused total nucleated cell dose was 3.6 × 10e7 per kilogram body weight. Serum HPRT levels reached normal values by the end of the sixth month post transplant. Slow neurodevelopmental improvement seen during the three-year follow-up and the missing self-injuring behavior can be considered as a proof for the presence of enzyme-competent cells behind the blood–brain barrier.     

Physical Violence and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Gedeo Zone,Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundPhysical violence against women of reproductive age is a significant public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to assess physical violence and associated factors among women of reproductive age.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study design was implemented from August 1 to September 30, 2018, including women of reproductive age in Gedeo Zone Southern Ethiopia. A stratified, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used. Finally, the study population was selected from the respective source population using a simple random sampling technique. Data were checked, coded, and entered Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. The wealth index was computed using the principal component analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were computed to identify the determinants of physical violence among women of reproductive age.ResultsExperiencing at least one type of physical violence among women of reproductive age was 14.7% (95%CI: 11.7, 17.4). Study participants whose spouse had any habit (AOR: 3.56; 95%CI: 1.75, 7.25) and whose spouse had watched pornography counterpart ((AOR: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.02, 3.17) had significantly higher odds of experiencing physical violence among women of reproductive age. Spouses had any habit like alcohol drinking, chat chewing, cigarette smoking, and seeing pornography significantly increased physical violence among reproductive-age women. Therefore, the responsible stakeholders should work on the means to the spouse can alleviate any form of habit like alcohol drinking, chat chewing, cigarette smoking, and seeing pornography could decrease physical violence in women of reproductive age.     

Improved Diagnostic Sensitivity of Bowel Disease of Prematurity on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Bowel diseases of prematurity, including necrotizing enterocolitis, are dreaded ailments of neonates. Early diagnosis is difficult, with clinical and radiographic findings often inconclusive. We present a novel use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in detection of pediatric bowel disease. Early identification of compromised blood flow or an at-risk bowel can be quantitatively detected and monitored. This ability has implications for guidance of emerging therapies, allowing targeting of inflammation. These findings represent an advancement in detection of bowel disease in neonates.