Open rhinoplasty for treatment of nasal tip haemangioma

Haemangiomas are the most common tumours of infancy. They typically proliferate then involute with considerable variation as regards to their rates of proliferation and involution. Haemangioma of the nasal tip is a lesion of special characteristics. During proliferation, it expands, contracts and deviates the nasal cartilages. Particularly, it regresses slowly and frequently involutes incompletely. That is why excision of the lesion is frequently suggested. The present study was conducted to evaluate open rhinoplasty after initial non-excision treatment modalities namely, intra-lesional corticosteroid injections and laser treatment, as a protocol of treatment for nasal tip haemangiomas. Twelve patients with nasal tip haemangiomas were included in the present study. Patients of both sexes, of different ages, with deep and mixed haemangiomas were studied. Disfigurement was the constant presenting symptom. Initial non-excision treatment reported different responses as denoted by the regression of the lesions’ size. Haemangiomas constantly extended between the medial crura of the alar cartilages as noted by the constant widening of the columella pre-operatively and the obvious separation of the nasal cartilages intra-operatively. This separation was constantly found to require approximation by sutures. The results of the present study concluded that whenever an early presentation with nasal tip haemangioma could be established, initial non-excision treatment followed by open rhinoplasty could be a useful protocol of treatment. Within the limitations of the present study, this protocol could achieve an early, safe and effective treatment for nasal tip haemangiomas with provisionally acceptable cosmetic outcomes so far.     

Cognitive functioning and psychiatric symptomatology in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public-health-care problem, with over 170 million infected worldwide. Patients with chronic HCV infection often complain of various cognitive problems as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Relatively little is known, however, about the specific cognitive deficits that are common among HCV patients, and the influence of psychiatric symptomatology on cognitive functioning. In the current study of 21 chronically infected HCV patients, we assessed subjective cognitive dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and fatigue and compared these symptom areas to cognitive tests assessing visuoconstruction, learning, memory, visual attention, psychomotor speed, and mental flexibility. Results revealed that cognitive impairment ranged from 9% of patients on a visuoconstruction task to 38% of patients on a measure of complex attention, visual scanning and tracking, and psychomotor speed, and greater HCV disease severity as indicated by liver fibrosis was associated with greater cognitive dysfunction. Objective cognitive impairment was not related to subjective cognitive complaints or psychiatric symptomatology. These findings suggest that a significant portion of patients with chronic HCV experience cognitive difficulties that may interfere with activities of daily living and quality of life. Future research using cognitive measures with HCV-infected patients may assist researchers in identifying if there is a direct effect of HCV infection on the brain and which patients may be more likely to progress to cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.     

A p65/p95 Neural Surface Receptor is Expressed at the S-G2 Phase of the Cell Cycle and Defines Distinct Populations

A surface receptor complex of M _r˜65 000 (p65) and ˜95 000 (p95) is expressed in cells of the central nervous system of mice. This receptor is recognized by monoclonal antibody 87.92.6 or by reovirus type 3 haemagglutinin as unnatural ligands. The p65/p95 receptor is expressed mostly in neural embryonic precursors undergoing proliferation, especially those in the S-G₂ phase of the cell cycle. Receptor expression decreases progressively throughout embryogenesis to low but detectable levels in the adult brain. Biochemical characterization revealed that the neural p65/p95 receptor complex is indistinguishable from the p65/p95 receptor expressed in T cells, where receptor ligation leads to a mitogenic block. In neural and lymphoid tissues the p65/p95 receptor (or an associated protein) possesses a tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity. Receptor ligation in neural cells resulted in the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins which are different from substrates phosphorylated in T cells. Differential substrate coupling to the receptor may account for differences in signal transduction and biology between neural cells and T cells. Further study of this receptor complex may help define important features of neural proliferation, differentiation and survival.     

Sevelamer hydrochloride with or without alphacalcidol or higher dialysate calcium vs calcium carbonate in dialysis patients: an open-label, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Sevelamer hydrochloride was recently proposed as a phosphate binder to prevent hypercalcaemia in place of calcium alkaline salts in dialysis patients. So far, it has been evaluated only in patients receiving calcitriol, without comparison with CaCO(3) alone, although the latter was found to be as effective as the combination of calcitriol and Al(OH)(3) in suppressing parathyroid hormone (PTH) without inducing hypercalcaemia and to have a better lowering effect on serum phosphate. Moreover, this bile salt binder may decrease serum 25-OH vitamin D. Therefore, we compared for 5 months two strategies for controlling moderate hyperparathyroidism: CaCO(3) alone vs sevelamer in conjunction with measures to increase calcium balance. METHODS: Forty-two patients were randomized: 21 continued their treatment with 4.8 g/day CaCO(3) and 21 were switched to sevelamer (initial dose: 2.4 g/day, increased to 4.4 g/day). Each month, when serum-corrected calcium decreased below 2.30 mmol/l, dialysate calcium was increased or alphacalcidol was given at each dialysis session, according to serum PO(4) levels. The following parameters were monitored: serum Ca, PO(4), bicarbonate and protein, weekly; and serum PTH, 25-OH vitamin D and total, LDL and HDL cholesterol monthly. RESULTS: Except for higher serum phosphate at month 1, lower serum bicarbonate at month 2 and lower LDL cholesterol at month 5 in the sevelamer group, no difference was found between the two groups. Compared with baseline levels, PTH increased and 25-OH vitamin D decreased significantly in both groups, these two parameters being inversely correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Given comparable control of plasma calcium, phosphate and 25-OH vitamin D, PTH control is comparable in both strategies. Sevelamer does not induce greater vitamin D depletion than CaCO(3). The transient decrease of serum bicarbonate after discontinuation of CaCO(3) in the sevelamer group suggests a less optimal prevention of acidosis. The sevelamer-induced decrease in LDL cholesterol gives this drug a potential advantage in cardiovascular prevention.     

Analysis of MHC genes in a Tunisian isolate with autoimmune thyroid diseases: implication of TNF -308 gene polymorphism

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), which include Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), Graves' disease (GD) and primary idiopathic myxoedema (PIM), are recognized as multifactorial diseases. In this study, we have examined single and haplotypic genetic variation across the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in a Tunisian isolate with a high prevalence of AITDs (62 patients: 32 with GD, 9 with HT and 21 with PIM). Genotyping was performed for HLA class I and II alleles as well as polymorphisms within tumor necrosis factor (TNF), lymphotoxin alpha (TLalpha) and heat shock protein (HSP70-02 and HSP70-hom) genes. Our results showed association of HLA-A2-B50-TNF 2 haplotype with AITDs (p = 0.045). Linkage analysis using Simwalk2 program has shown significant result with TNF -308 gene polymorphism (p = 0.03). The FBAT has given evidence for genetic association with TNF -308 and HLA-DR gene polymorphisms. TNF 2 allele was associated with GD (p = 0.0011), whereas TNF 1, HLA-DR11 and DR12 (p = 0.0039, p = 0.00089 and p = 0.0056, respectively) were rather implicated in HT pathogenesis. Results found by TDT-STDT have confirmed the involvement of the TNF -308 gene polymorphism in AITD pathogenesis (p < 10(-9)).     

Expression of CD4 on peripheral blood granulocytes. a novel finding in a case of myelodysplastic syndrome in association with t(5;12)

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are associated with cell maturation defects that can manifest as abnormal surface antigen expression. We describe a patient with refractory anemia with excess blasts, who presented with infection and extensive dysplastic features in peripheral blood granulocytes. The granulocytes expressed CD11b, CD13, CD15, CD33, and CD43. The granulocytes also expressed CD4 antigen. Cytogenetic analysis showed a clonal t(5;12)(q33;p13). The patient improved on antibiotics with partial improvement in the dysplastic features. However, shortly after, the patient experienced paravertebral extramedullary blast transformation followed by a leukemia phase of acute monoblastic leukemia. The patient died a few days later. This is the first report describing anomalous expression of CD4 on granulocytes in MDS. Since the breakpoint on chromosome 12 is near the CD4 gene, which is mapped to 12p12, we hypothesize that dysregulation of the CD4 gene may have occurred resulting in its persistent expression on mature and maturing granulocytes.     

Evaluation of {beta}-endorphin and interleukin-6 in seminal plasma of patients with certain andrological diseases

Human semen contains large amounts of opioid peptides and cytokines.We have measured the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 in140 semen samples and of -endorphinin 77 semen samples. Themedian concentration of endorphinin seminal plasma from normozoospermicmen(n = 23) was 154.7 pg/ml (10th—90th percentiles, 42.0—774.6),and there was no significant difference in the -endorphin concentrationamong normozoospermic, oligozoospermic (n= 28), asthenozoospermic(n= 15), azoospermic(n= 4) and post-vasectomy (n= 7) samples.There was no correlation between -endorphin concentration andsperm characteristics, nor with blood hormones. Endorphinconcentration was lower in cases with immunelogical infertility,as revealed by a positive direct mixedantiglobulin reactiontest (n = 12) ( > 0.01), than inmatched controls. The medianconcentration of IL-6 insamples with normal sperm concentration,motility andmorphology with or without white blood cells (n=39) was 26.1 pg/ml (10th–90th percentiles, 7.3–172.3),and there was no significant difference in the IL-6 concentrationamong normozoospermic, oligozoospermic (n= 46),asthenozoospermic(n= 32), azoospermic (n= 13) and post-vasectomy (n= 10) samples.The IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in cases ofvaricocele (n= 22)without white blood cells in semen (P <0.001) than in matched controls without varicocele (n= 23).In addition, the IL-6 concentration was elevated (P < 0.0001)in cases with accessory sex gland inflammation (n= 40). IL-6concentration was positively correlated with white blood cellsin semen (n= 60, r = 0.59, P < 0.0001), but there was nocorrelation with -endorphin concentration. The IL-6 concentrationchosen to differentiate between cases with and without accessorygland inflammation was 45.3 pg/ml, with a specificity of 80.6%and a sensitivity of 92.5%. It is concluded that -endorphinin seminal plasma playsan immune suppressive role, and thatincreased IL-6 concentration may be related to testicular dysfunctionincases with varicocele. Furthermore, IL-6 is an accurate markerof accessory sex gland inflammation.     

Synthèse de macromères à base de chlorures de vinyle et de vinylidène au moyen de télomères

New macromers 4, 8, and 10, containing ester, alcohol, or acid functions, were prepared starting with vinyl chloride (CV) or vinylidene dichloride (CV₂). The telomer 1, resulting from CV₂ and CCI₄ was telomerized with allyl acetate and the product was transformed into the acrylate 4 by hydrolysis of the reaction product and subsequent esterification. Macromers 8 and 10 were prepared from CV by radical telomerization with thioglycolic acid (7) and 2-mercaptoethanol (9), respectively. Reactive double bonds were introduced into these macromers by reaction with acrylic acid, Vinyl chloroformate, methacryloyl chloride, or 2,3 -epoxypropyle methacrylate, leading to new macromers 12, 13, 14, and 15, respectively.     

The neuropathology of septic shock

The neuropathological correlates of encephalopathy and autonomic dysfunction in septic shock are unclear. We performed post mortem analysis of 5 brain areas susceptible to ischemia and 5 autonomic nuclei (AN) in 23 patients who had died in our intensive care unit (ICU) from septic shock and 8 dying from non-septic shock as well as 5 controls who had died suddenly from extracranial injury. Proinflammatory cytokine (IL1-beta and TNF-alpha) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry. Abnormalities in septic shock were: hemorrhages (26%), hypercoagulability syndrome (9%), micro-abscesses (9%), multifocal necrotizing leukoencephalopathy (9%) and ischemia (100%). The incidence of cerebral hemorrhage or hypercoagulability syndrome was not related to clotting disturbances. The intensity of ischemia within susceptible areas was the same in both ICU groups, but more pronounced in the autonomic centers of septic patients (P < 0.0001). Neuronal apoptosis assessed using anti-caspase 3 immunocytochemistry and in situ end labeling was more pronounced in the autonomic nuclei of septic patients. (P < 0.0001). TNF-alpha expression did not differ between groups but vascular iNOS expression assessed by immunocytochemistry was higher in sepsis (P<0.0001) and correlated with autonomic center neuronal apoptosis (P < 0.02). We conclude that septic shock is associated with diffuse cerebral damage and specific autonomic neuronal apoptosis which may be due to circulating factors particularly iNOS.