Neonatal renal failure due to obstructive candidal bezoars

Acute renal failure (ARF) developed in a 7-week-old infant due to bilateral candidal bezoars (fungal balls) causing obstruction at the pelviureteric junction. The baby was born at term with an appropriate birthweight, and had been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics for respiratory distress and septicemia during the 1st week of life. Recovery from ARF followed renal decompression with bilateral nephrostomy tube placement and parenteral administration of amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine. Received August 21, 1996; received in revised form and accepted January 3, 1997     

The Broad Spectrum of Quality in Deceased Donor Kidneys

The quality of the deceased donor organ clearly is one of the most crucial factors in determining graft survival and function in recipients of a kidney transplant. There has been considerable effort made towards evaluating these organs culminating in an amendment to allocation policy with the introduction of the expanded criteria donor (ECD) policy.
Our study, from first solitary adult deceased donor transplant recipients from 1996 to 2002 in the National Scientific Transplant Registry database, presents a donor kidney risk grade based on significant donor characteristics, donor–recipient matches and cold ischemia time, generated directly from their risk for graft loss. We investigated the impact of our donor risk grade in a naïve cohort on short- and long-term graft survival, as well as in subgroups of the population.
The projected half-lives for overall graft survival in recipients by donor risk grade were I (10.7 years), II (10.0 years), III (7.9 years), IV (5.7 years) and V (4.5 years). This study indicates that there is great variability in the quality of deceased donor kidneys and that the assessment of risk might be enhanced by this scoring system as compared to the simple two-tiered system of the current ECD classification.     

Malate and lactate dehydrogenases of a freshwater catfish: impact of endosulfan

A sublethal concentration of technical grade endosulfan (END) inhibited 35 to 55% of the activities of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH), mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the liver and the skeletal muscle of a freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus, after 7 days of exposure. The activity remained in the inhibited state up to 28 days. The withdrawal of END from the medium after 1 week of exposure gradually restored the activities to control levels within 21 days in the skeletal muscle and 28 days in the liver. The administration of actinomycin D or cycloheximide between the 14th and the 21st day of the withdrawal of END almost completely inhibited the withdrawal-dependent recovery in the activities of all the three enzymes. This indicates de novo synthesis of the enzymes during the recovery period. A conjoint treatment of END and triiodothyronine (T3) raised the activities of cMDH, mMDH, and LDH in the liver and the skeletal muscle up to the control levels. This shows that the inhibitory effect of END may be relieved in presence of T3. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed few changes in the pattern of cytoplasmic proteins of the liver and the skeletal muscle in response to exposure to END.     

Smoking and lung functions in sportsmen.

Ten smoker sportsmen and 17 non-smoker sportsmen and 41 smoker non-sportsmen were studied. Lung function was assessed by means of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1%) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). For the smokers, all the tests were conducted before smoking (BS) and 30 min after smoking (AS) two cigarettes consecutively to observe the acute effect of smoking. In the smoker sportsmen there was no significant difference between BS and AS measures of lung function. Before smoking smoker sportsmen had lower values for FEV1, FEV1% and PEFR than non-smoker sportsmen (p less than 0.05). However, smoker sportsmen show higher BS values of FEV1 (p less than 0.01), FEV1% (p less than 0.01) and PEFR (p less than 0.05) compared with those of smoker non-sportsmen who had similar smoking indices. These results indicated that the smoker sportsmen, despite exhibiting some degree of lung function impairment in relation to non-smoker sportsmen, still maintained rather better lung function status than the smoker non-sportsmen.     

Immunomodulatory Effects of γ-HCH (Lindane) in Mice

Mice were fed for 24 weeks with three different subtoxic dosages of γ-HCH (0.012, 0.12 and 1.2 mg/kg) mixed in powdered feed. The immunological profile was assessed at an interval of one month during the entire exposure period. Both the cell mediated and humoral components of immunity showed a biphasic response characterized initially by stimulation followed by suppression in a dose dependent manner. However, γ-HCH did not affect the functional properties of peritoneal macrophages. Histological changes in lymphoid organs were in accordance with the biphasic immunomodulatory effects of γ -HCH.     

Treatment of dual diagnosis patients: A relapse prevention group approach

The authors describe the successful use of an adjunctive group psychotherapy for substance-abusing patients with major psychiatric disorders (bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, psychotic depression, and atypical psychosis). The group utilizes a psychoeducational approach that focuses on substance abuse causes and consequences, principles of recovery, and relapse prevention strategies. Eight patients with prolonged histories of abuse of cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs were enrolled in this weekly group treatment at a community mental health center drug treatment program, while continuing in treatment with their current case manager or primary therapist. Six of the eight patients achieved periods of stable abstinence, documented by self-report, urine toxicology screens, continued group attendance, and improved social functioning. Case examples are utilized to illustrate the group process.     

Verrucous carcinoma maxilla — A case report

A case of veruccous carcinoma of the maxilla extending to alveulus and palate is reported. Treated with radical maxillectomy: there has been no recurrence within one year. The coexistance of submicous fibrosis and veruccous carcinoma is observed and the histological features of the later are highlighted.