Hand injuries in foreign labour workers in an Irish university hospital

The present study reports on a new, rapidly growing patient subpopulation presenting with hand injuries to the Department of Plastic Surgery in Cork University Hospital (Ireland). The impact of the 10 new European Union accession states on the trauma workload is examined. The associated growth in expenditure on interpreter services is also examined. Potential risk factors in the foreign workers’ new working environment is explored.     

Integrated concept of treatment for reduction of morbidity after resection of panniculus morbidus associated with lymphoedema

Abstract A subgroup of grossly obese patients may develop a large hanging abdominal apron, panniculus morbidus, which can contain an element of lymphoedema. This hinders normal activities and prevents adequate hygiene. We reviewed published reports and found that the complications that result from resection of a panniculus had been well described, but the presence of lymphoedema and the possible benefit of appropriate physiotherapy was not addressed. Our first aim was to assess our overall morbidity. Secondly we assessed whether perioperative complex decongestive physical therapy had the potential to reduce the incidence of commonly encountered complications. We retrospectively reviewed the casenotes of all massively obese patients who had panniculectomies between 1998 and 2008. We identified two groups of patients, in the first of which were 38 patients who were given perioperative complex decongestive physical therapy (CDP). In the second group were 18 patients who had no additional treatment perioperatively. We then compared the differences between the groups in the incidence of complications, reoperation rate, duration of hospital stay, and wound complications. All the patients not given perioperative treatment developed a postoperative complication. Only 6 patients in the treated group had minor wound problems. The rates and severity of complications associated with this type of operation can be improved if the patient has access to additional care in a specialised rehabilitation centre during the perioperative period.     

Determination of the absolute concentrations of monoamine oxidase A and B in human tissues

The concentrations of monoamine oxidase-A and -B were determined in homogenates of human cerebral cortex, caudatus and placenta and in human platelet-rich plasma and platelet membranes by determining the specific binding of tritium-labelled pargyline. The concentrations of the two enzyme forms were similar in both human brain regions examined. Determinations of the minimum quantities of clorgyline, (-)-deprenyl, J-508 or pargyline necessary to give complete inhibition of enzyme activity was found to give overestimates of the amounts of monoamine oxidase-A and -B present due to nonspecific binding of these inhibitors.     

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. Review and report of 3 cases

Three cases of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome are reported. All were phenotypically and karyotypically male but with persistent duct remnants. Problems encountered in management and surgery are discussed.     

The deamination of dopamine by human brain monoamine oxidase

The deamination of dopamine has been studied in seven regions of human brain. Both A and B forms of the enzyme were found to be active towards this substrate. The ratio of activities of MAO-A: MAO-B was found to vary considerably from brain region to brain region, from about 1:1 for the cerebral and cerebellar cortex to about 1:2 for the pons and medulla oblongata. Enzyme titration studies and comparisons of the substrate specificities of MAO-A and MAO-B across the brain indicated that dopamine was metabolised by the same MAO active centres as other monoamines. In the cerebral cortex, the Km values of MAO-A and -B towards dopamine were found to be 210 and 230 microM, respectively, indicating that the relative contributions of these two forms towards the oxidation of this substrate will not be significantly affected by changes in its concentration.     

Experimental assessment of pro-lymphangiogenic growth factors in the treatment of post-surgical lymphedema following lymphadenectomy

Introduction  

Lymphedema is a frequent consequence of lymph node excision during breast cancer surgery. Current treatment options are limited mainly to external compression therapies to limit edema development. We investigated previously, postsurgical lymphedema in a sheep model following the removal of a single lymph node and determined that autologous lymph node transplantation has the potential to reduce or prevent edema development. In this report, we examine the potential of lymphangiogenic therapy to restore lymphatic function and reduce postsurgical lymphedema.     

Cytochemical investigation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in rat mammary tissue.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in epithelial cells from six normal, eight lactating and 21 DMBA tumour bearing rat mammary tissues was investigated using techniques of quantitative cytochemistry. G6PD promoted H+ production was quantified under atmospheres of N2 and O2 in frozen sections from rat mammary tissue in the presence and absence of a H+ acceptor (Total H+ and Type I H+). There was a considerable overlap between the three tissue types in values for Total H+ measured under N2 or O2. However, maximum H+ production in lactating and DMBA tumour tissue took longer to achieve in O2 than in N2 (16-20 min vs 6-8 min). In normal tissue maximum production of Total H+ was not achieved until 45-50 min and the rate of reaction was similar in N2 and in O2. Type I H+ measured in N2 did not vary significantly between DMBA tumours and lactating tissue but under O2 was only present in DMBA tumour, being undetectable in both normal and lactating tissue. The results demonstrate that despite the overlap in G6PD activities between the tissues tested, the techniques of quantitative cytochemistry can provide a functional assay differentiating between non-malignant and malignant breast tissue in the rat.