Cartilage sulfation inhibitor from rat liver: partial characterization of properties and biologic action

Cartilage sulfation (somatomedin) inhibitors (CSI) from rat liver produce reversible inhibition of cartilage growth. After gel filtration Sephadex G-200, CSI appear to have MW approximately 100,000 and they are urea- and trypsin-labile factors. To explore further the mechanism of CSI action, we used the chick pelvic rudiment bioassay and studied the effect of CSI on the incorporation on 35S-sulfate (proteoglycan synthesis), 14C-leucine (protein synthesis), 3H-uridine (RNA synthesis), and 3H-thymidine (DNA synthesis). Normal rat serum (NRS) significantly stimulated the incorporation of all four isotopes, as expected. After a 24-hour incubation, CSI significantly blunted cartilage stimulation by NRS regarding total isotope uptake (1), 35S-sulfate (NRS, 96 +/- 8 mcg/100 mg cartilage dry weight; NRS + CSI, 48 +/- 4, mean +/- SEM, n = 29, P less than .05); and (2) 14C-leucine (NRS, 2,089 +/- 172 cpm/mg dry weight; NRS + CSI, 1,102 +/- 141, n = 18, P less than .05); and (3) 3H-uridine (NRS, 6,711 +/- 832 cpm/mg; NRS + CSI, 3,227 +/- 425 cpm/mg, n = 18, P less than .05); but not (4) 3H-thymidine (NRS, 3,540 +/- 620 cpm/mg; NRS + CSI 3,249 +/- 285, n = 19). The inhibition of 35S-sulfate and 14C-leucine uptake by CSI was dose-dependent and reversible. For 35S-sulfate, uptake by cartilage incubated with CSI alone for 40 hours was 13 +/- 3 micrograms/100 mg; with CSI for 16 hours then fresh medium with NRS for 24 hours uptake was 39 +/- 12, P less than .05.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Acute fungal thyroiditis in a patient with acute myelogenous leukaemia.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis of any origin is uncommon, but fungal infections of the gland are particularly rare. Haematogenous spread is the usual route of infection. We here present the case of a recently encountered patient with neutropenic fever and Candida thyroiditis. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy greatly aided the diagnosis. In immunocompromised patients, the specimens should be treated with special stains to detect the presence of opportunistic organisms; if any are found, appropriate therapy should be initiated.     

Visceral basidiobolomycosis: An overlooked infection in immunocompetent children

Visceral basidiobolomycosis is an unusual fungal infection of viscera caused by saprophyte Basidiobolus ranarum. It is very rare in healthy children and poses a diagnostic challenge due to the non-specific clinical presentation and the absence of predisposing factors. We report a case of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in a 4-year-old healthy girl who presented with a short history of abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum, fever, and weight loss. The diagnosis was based on high eosinophilic count, classical histopathology findings of fungal hyphae (the Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon), and positive fungal culture from a tissue biopsy. Fungal infection was successfully eradicated with a combined approach of surgical resection of the infected tissue and a well-monitored course of antifungal therapy. The atypical clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques, and the role of surgery in the management of a rare and lethal fungal disease in an immunocompetent child are discussed.Key words: Basidiobolomycosis, child, fungal infection, gastrointestinal, immunocompetent     

Glucagonoma syndrome. Rapid response following arterial embolization of glucagonoma metastatic to the liver

Transcatheter arterial embolization was used to treat a patient with glucagonoma metastatic to the liver after chemotherapy failed. Rapid amelioration of the syndrome's manifestations followed.