Evidence that calcium channel blockade prevents cyclosporine-induced exacerbation of renal ischemic injury.

The following study was performed to determine whether calcium channel blockers, delivered before or after an ischemic insult, were effective at reducing cyclosporine-induced exacerbation of renal ischemic injury. When cyclosporine (5 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to rats after 30 min of renal ischemia, GFR fell by 60% compared with values observed in rats subjected to ischemia alone (190 +/- 30 vs. 330 +/- 40 microliters/min/100 g; P less than 0.05). Pretreatment with verapamil (10 micrograms/kg/min delivered intravenously) prevented the fall in GFR (320 +/- 70 microliters/min 100 g), as did pretreatment with nitrendipine, 1 micrograms/kg/min (460 +/- 90 microliters/min/100 g). Verapamil was less effective if given after the ischemia-cyclosporine insult (GFR 260 +/- 90 microliters/min/100 g), and nitrendipine given at this time had no beneficial effect at all (GFR 180 +/- 10 microliters/min/100 g). The doses of calcium channel blockers used had no protective effect on renal ischemic injury alone. Blood pressure during study ranged between 105 and 119 mm Hg with minor differences between groups. Sodium and potassium excretion and urinary flow rates were similar in all groups, except for a slight increase in sodium excretion in verapamil-treated rats. These values demonstrate that calcium channel blockers ameliorate the exacerbation or renal ischemic injury induced by cyclosporine if given before but not after the ischemia-cyclosporine insult. The protective effect of these agents, used preischemia in cyclosporine-treated rats, is observed with intravenous use of the drugs at doses that have no protective effect on renal ischemic injury alone.     

Comparison of selective media for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni/coli

A comparison of Skirrow's, Butzler's, Blaser's, Campy-BAP and Preston media for Campylobacter spp was made using human, animal and environmental specimens. Butzler's medium gave the lowest isolation rate and Preston medium, which was the most selective, the highest isolation rate. Enrichment culture using Preston enrichment broth gave a higher isolation rate than direct plating onto Preston medium.     

The influence of isoprinosine (ISO) on some cell immunity parameters in mice infected with influenza viruses and in mixed viral-bacterial infections. I. The release of the migration inhibiting factor from spleen leukocytes

The influence of ISO, the antiviral drug of immunomodulating activity, on the course of experimental influenza infections and mixed, viral-bacterial infections was studied. Spleen leukocytes migration inhibition test, performed in vitro in the presence of specific antigens stimulating influence of the drug administered to the infected animals was observed.     

Meningioma presenting as an intraoral mass in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

A 77-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 presented with ill-fitting dentures due to intraoral extension of a right temporal fossa mass. Computed tomographic scanning demonstrated that the masticator space mass bowed the zygomatic arch and remodeled the lateral orbit and maxillary sinus walls, findings that were consistent with the clinical diagnosis of a neurofibroma with possible malignant transformation. However, light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural examination of tissue from an incisional biopsy specimen were diagnostic of meningioma. This case illustrates that the clinicopathologic differential diagnosis of an enlarging mass in patient with neurofibromatosis should include sporadic, unrelated neoplasms as well as tumors known to be associated with the syndrome.