PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM, GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY AND CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS IN A CHILD WITH THE KARYOTYPE 46, XY, del(l)(q25q32)

Abstract. Primary thyroidal hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, congenital malformations and mental retardation occurred in a child with an interstitial deletion of one of the No. 1 chromosomes. Two bands were missing, so that the karyotype could be written: del(l)(pter→q25::q32→qter). The possible relationship between the clinical features and chromosomal deletion are discussed.     

Ultrastructure of a Tail Stump Sperm Defect in an Ayrshire Bull

Ultrastruktur eines Schwanzstummel-Defektes bei den Spermatozoen eines sterilen Ayrshire-Bullen
Die Spermatozoen aus dem Ejakulat eines sterilen Ayrshire-Bullen wurden sowohl licht-mikroskopisch als auch mittels SEM und TEM untersucht. Dabei ergab sich fast überall ein Fehlen der Schwänze der Spermatozoen, während die Spermatozoenköpfe morphologisch normal erschienen. Die cytoplasmatischen Reste des kaudalen Endes des Kopfes ent-hielten zahlreiche Membranstrukturen sowie Mitochondrien und inkomplete Elemente des proximalen Zentriols. Nach Auffassung der Autoren handelt es sich bei dieser Störung um einen angeborenen Defekt in der Spermatogenese.     

The incidence of hypertension and the effects of a regular high-dose alcohol intake on blood pressure in a medium-sized Hungarian town (Csongrad)

Hypertension screening was carried out on 13,772 adults (74%of the eligible population) in conjunction with X-ray screeningfor tuberculosis in the Hungarian town of Csongrád. Inyoung adults, the blood pressure was found to be higher amongstmen, whilst in older subjects the women had higher blood pressures.Systolic hypertension was detected in one-third of the populationand diastolic hypertension in one-sixth. Of the hypertensivecases detected, 34% were unaware of their disease. Among others,the effects of alcohol intake on blood pressure were investigated.There were 21.4% of the men and 2.3% of the women who admittedto being regular alcohol consumers. Direct and significant correlationswere found between the quantity of alcohol consumed and boththe systolic (p<0.001) and diastolic (p<0.05) blood pressures.The prevalence of hypertension (on the basis of the WHO criteria)was higher in heavy (>80 g ethanol/day) drinkers (29.9%)than in abstinent subjects (20.5% p<0.001). When participantswere subdivided according to age groups, only the men providedsufficient data for a statistical analysis. The systolic bloodpressure of heavy drinkers was higher than that of non-drinkers(y =0.664x + 100.2; y = 0.506x + 114.6; p<0.05).     

A case of pulmonary vascular occlusive disease: comparison of post-mortem radiography and histology

A case of rapidly progressing fatal pulmonary hypertension in a nine-year-old boy showing histological narrowing and occlusion of pulmonary veins and arteries is described. Post-mortem radiography of the air-inflated, excised lung without use of additional contrast media nicely demonstrated the vascular lesions.     

Prevalence of single crowns and fixed partial dentures in elderly citizens in the southern and northern parts of Finland

Summary The epidemiology of oral rehabilitation using fixed prosthodontics has received little attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of single crowns, fixed partial dentures (FPDs), resin‐bonded FPDs and implants in elderly Finnish patients and to identify factors that might be associated with the findings. The survey was carried out in the southern and northern parts of Finland. The target population consisted of all persons born in 1919, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1931, 1934 and 1937, who lived in Kirkkonummi and in Lakeus (n = 1733) in 1996. The age range of the subjects was 60–78 years. In addition to a clinical examination, panoramic radiograph was taken. Data on background factors were obtained using questionnaires and/or interviews. The presence of single crowns, FPDs, resin‐bonded FPDs and implants were determined from the panoramic radiographs. Overall, 12·4% of men and 12·1% of women had single crowns, while 4·8% of men and 8·0% of women had FPDs. A logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of crowns and FPDs was significantly associated with a southern place of residence, high and middle levels of education and high frequency of dental visits.     

AN ARTHOROPATHIC FROM OF OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA

Abstract. Penttinen, R., Sipola, E., Kouvalainen, K., Similä, S. and Remes, M. (Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Turku, and Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland). Arthropathic osteogenesis imperfecta. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69:263, 1980.—A 14-year-old girl gradually developed severe osteoporosis and destructive generalized joint disease, resulting in joint stiffness and anchyloses. She also had moderate hydroxyprolinemia and hydroxyprolinuria. Rheumatoid arthritis was highly unlikely. Anamnestic data revealed two long bone fractures. Collagen biosynthesis was studied in fibroblasts cultured from the patient's skin. Chromatograms of ³H-labelled culture media proteins on ion exchange celluloses revealed an increased ratio of type III collagen to type I collagen when compared with the chromatograms of age-matched control fibroblasts. This finding is typical of certain cell strains in osteogenesis imperfecta. The patient might thus express a new variety of osteogenesis imperfecta with chronic arthropathy.     

Serum oncostatin M in multiple myeloma: association with prognostic factors

We report on five children with haematological malignancies who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation. PBPC were harvested from HLA-identical sibling donors after G-CSF (10 μg/kg/d s.c.) mobilization. Aphereses were carried out on day 5 after G-CSF using a Cobe Spectra blood cell separator. All PBPC allografts were cryopreserved before transplantation. The median of CD34⁺ cells and CD3⁺ cells infused were 14.1×10⁶/kg recipient body weight (range 4.92–22.3) and 2.40×10⁸/kg recipient body weight (range 0.54–4.82), respectively. Engraftment occurred in all cases. The median time to a neutrophil count >0.5×10⁹/l and a platelet count >20×10⁹/l were 15 and 14 d, respectively. The incidence of severe acute graft-versus-host disease was 20%. These data suggest that allogeneic PBPC transplantation might be an alternative to bone marrow transplantation in children.