Amebic Peritonitis

A total of 18 patients with amebic peritonitis were studied. Fourteen of these cases were due to rupture of amebic liver abscess into the peritoneum and the remaining cases were due to perforation of amebic colitis. No initial suspicion of amebic etiology was made in more than half of the cases. In the group of ruptured liver abscesses, nearly half of the patients showed right lower lung syndrome. The diagnosis in 13 of 14 cases of rupture of liver abscess was confirmed on aspiration.
Patients with ruptured amebic liver abscess were of two types: 1. Diffuse type with diffuse signs, shorter duration of illness and poor prognosis. 2. Localized type with longer duration of illness, marked signs of peritonitis and better prognosis.     

Angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumors (cellular angiofibroma)

Angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumor (cellular angiofibroma) is a rare, circumscribed, slow-growing mesenchymal tumor that occurs predominantly in the vulva, perineum, and pelvis of women. We report two cases of this tumor in men arising as paratesticular masses of the scrotum, summarize the history of this tumor, and discuss why efforts should be made to differentiate it from aggressive angiomyxoma. Recommended treatment is complete surgical excision with long-term follow up exams, as local recurrence may occur many years after resection of the lesion.     

The Autonomic Control of the Transmural Dispersion of Ventricular Repolarization in Anesthetized Dogs

INTRODUCTION: The initiation of ventricular arrhythmias is in part associated with autonomic nervous tone. We investigated the effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation on the monophasic action potentials (MAPs) of the epicardium (EPi), mid-myocardial (M) region, and endocardium (Endo) in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 12 mongrel open chest anesthetized dogs, both sides of the cervical vagus nerves and stellate ganglia were crushed with a tight ligature. Right atrial pacing at 600 msec cycle length was begun after the sinus nodal area had been crushed. MAPs from the M region were measured by two needle electrodes that were supported by a W-shaped plastic frame. The epicardial, M region, and endocardial MAP durations at 90% repolarization (MAPD90) were 287+/-7, 315+/-7, and 290+/-8 msec, respectively. The MAPD90 from M cells was longer than that from Epi or Endo. Sympathetic stimulation shortened MAPD90 more in the M region (53+/-4 msec) than that in the Epi (27+/-3 msec) or Endo (26+/-4 msec). The transmural dispersion of repolarization during sympathetic stimulation was shorter than that of the control. Parasympathetic stimulation did not significantly affect any of the MAPD90 values. Simultaneous sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation produced changes not significantly to those produced by sympathetic stimulation alone. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that sympathetic activity can reduce transmural dispersion of repolarization under autonomic control in the canine heart under baseline conditions.     

Evaluation of Chelating Drugs on the Toxicity, Excretion, and Distribution of Nickel in Poisoned Rats

Evaluation of Chelating Drugs on the Toxicity, Excretion, andDistribution of Nickel in Poisoned Rats. ATHAR, M., MISRA, M.,AND SRIVASTAVA, R. C. (1987). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 9,26–33.The effects of various doses of two macrocyclic drugs, namely,1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam) and 5,7,7', 1 2,14,14'-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam s), on the toxicity, distribution,and excretion of nickel were evaluated in nickel-poisoned ratsand compared with the linear counterpart triethylenetetraamine(TETA) and a tripeptide, glutathione (GSH). Cyclam and Cyclams revealed a higher order of efficacy against the lethal responseof nickel even at a lower dose. These drugs significantly enhancedthe urinary and biliary excretion of nickel and restored thealtered levels of trace metals (viz., Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn) comparedto TETA and GSH. The efficacy of these drugs in vivo may berelated to their ability to transport nickel across an artificiallipid membrane, a phenomenon was not exhibited by TETA or GSH.