Food-grade titanium dioxide decreases hematocrit and hemoglobin and increases compulsive-like behavior in male mice

Food-grade titanium dioxide (E171) is widely used as a food additive, and it is known that after oral consumption, E171 is translocated into the bloodstream reaching the highest titanium level at 6 h. E171 is accumulated in some organs triggering toxicity, but the effects on the blood parameters after oral consumption have been less studied. Recently, evidence shows that oral exposure to E171 induces behavioral signs of anxiety and depression. The relation between blood alterations and psychiatric disorders has been previously demonstrated. However, the oral exposure to E171 effects on alterations in blood parameters and effects linked to alterations in animal behavior has not been explored. In this short communication, we aimed to investigate the effects of E171 on specific blood parameters (hematocrit, hemoglobin, number of erythrocytes, and leukocytes) and anxiety and compulsive-like behavior in males and females orally exposed to ~5 mg/kg for 4 weeks. The results showed that E171 decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin in male but not in female mice while leukocyte and erythrocyte count remained unaltered. Oral consumption of E171 decreased the levels of anxiety-like behavior in females but not in male mice, while compulsive-like behavior was increased in both male and female mice.     

Gray platelet syndrome: Management of perioperative bleeding in redo cardiac surgery

Gray platelet syndrome (GPS) is a rare (<1/1 000 000) and inherited platelet function disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia, α-granule deficiency, and hemorrhages. Bleeding intensity does not correlate with platelet count nor with functional test results. We hereby describe the perioperative bleeding prevention and management of a patient with GPS requiring multiple redo cardiac surgeries.     

Is there a diurnal pattern in the clinical symptoms of HELLP syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a diurnal pattern in the clinical symptoms of HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets) syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed in 134 pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome. The medical records were reviewed to describe each HELLP episode. Time of day was divided into three periods, day, evening, and night. The following parameters were categorized according to the time of day: onset of symptoms, consultation by the doctor, initial blood sampling, diagnosis and decrease of symptoms. Biochemical parameters at clinical presentation and consecutive changes within 24 h were recorded. RESULTS: In 65 pregnancies 77 HELLP episodes were well documented. Times of onset of symptoms and consultation by the doctor were significantly higher during the evening and night (p < 0.001), whereas times of diagnosis and decrease of symptoms occurred significantly more during the day (p < 0.001). In only 49.3% of the cases were diagnostic laboratory criteria met at clinical presentation. This was mainly due to platelet values in excess of 100 x 10(9)/l. Several hours later (median 8 h, range 2-23) the decrease in platelets occurred. CONCLUSIONS: A diurnal pattern exists in the clinical symptoms of HELLP syndrome that is characterized by an exacerbation during the night and recovery during the day. There is a considerable delay between the onset of symptoms and the fulfillment of diagnostic laboratory criteria.     

Outcomes at 3 years of a prospective pilot study of Campath-1H and sirolimus immunosuppression for renal transplantation

Campath-1H (alemtuzumab) induction was used for renal transplantation in combination with sirolimus as immunosuppression. We previously reported a high (28%) rate of early rejection with this regimen, and now report 3-year outcomes. Twenty-nine patients were recipients of either deceased donor or non-HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) identical living donor primary renal allografts. Clinical parameters including infection, malignancy, kidney function, and kidney histology were followed prospectively for 3 years. Three-year cumulative graft and patient survival were 96% and 100%, respectively. Twenty patients were maintained on steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens, and 15 patients were maintained on monotherapy for immunosuppression (12 on sirolimus). No serious infectious complications were observed and two patients developed basal cell skin cancer. The 3-year results of our initial pilot study demonstrate good graft (96%) and patient (100%) outcomes. Campath-1H induction has yielded a high proportion of patients maintained on immunosuppressive monotherapy (57%) without serious infectious- and no malignancy-related complications. The reported regimen yielded novel insights into both Campath-1H and sirolimus therapy in renal transplantation. Because of the higher incidence of early rejection, we recommend a modified strategy of immunosuppression including a brief course of a calcineurin inhibitor.     

Therapeutic Consequences of Variation in Intraarterial Pressure Measurements After Iliac Angioplasty

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of intraarterial measurement of transstenotic pressure gradients for the detection of hemodynamically suboptimal iliac angioplasty. Methods: In 14 patients, referred for diagnostic angiography, mean pressure gradients in the aorta and iliac artery were obtained twice, using a double-sensor pressure catheter. Additional iliac measurements were performed during pharmacologically induced flow augmentation. Repeatability was assessed by calculation of the mean difference plus standard deviation (MD ± SD) and repeatability coefficient (2 × SD). These results were extrapolated to 137 iliac angioplasty procedures with secondary stenting where there was a residual pressure gradient > 10 mmHg. Results: MD ± SD for repeated measurements at rest and during flow augmentation were 0 ± 2 mmHg and 1 ± 3 mmHg, respectively. Repeatability coefficients were 3 and 6 mmHg. Mean pressure gradients after hemodynamically insufficient angioplasty were 8 ± 7 mmHg at rest and 17 ± 5 mmHg following vasodilatation. Inaccurate pressure recordings may have led to inappropriate stent placement in less than 2.5%, and inappropriate denial of stent placement in less than 5% of the lesions. Conclusion: Variability of intraarterial pressure measurements has little consequence in the detection of hemodynamically significant stenosis after angioplasty. Received: 0/00/00/Accepted: 0/00/00     

Management of pediatric pontine gliomas

We present 36 consecutive patients with intrinsic glioma of the pons. Tumors with exophytic expansion were excluded. There were 16 females and 20 males, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years, median 6 years. The most common presenting symptoms were cranial nerve dysfunction. unsteadiness of gait, and hemiparesis. Computed tomography (CT) showed a hypodense (17/21) or isodense (4/21) expansion of the pons. Five tumors had areas of contrast enhancement. Following information about prognosis and possible types of management, parents decided for or against radiation therapy: twentyfour children underwent irradiation and 12 did not. Median survival among children receiving a full course of irradiation was 280 days, compared to 140 days in an equivalent group of non-irradiated children. Hemiparesis presenting without cranial nerve symptoms and contrast enhancement on CT scan were poor prognostic factors, whereas sex, age, and duration of symptoms at diagnosis were unrelated to prognosis.     

Flecainide versus quinidine in the prevention of paroxysms of atrial fibrillation

We compared the efficacy of flecainide versus quinidine in preventing paroxysms of atrial fibrillation in a randomized open crossover study. Twenty-six patients with weekly attacks of atrial fibrillation during the last 3 months, objectified by 24-h holter monitoring or 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) were treated for a period of 3 months with flecainide 100 mg b.i.d. or quinidine 500 mg b.i.d. Efficacy was assessed by 24-h holter monitoring and a questionnaire at the end of each month. Dosage was adjusted to flecainide 100 mg t.i.d. or quinidine 500 mg t.i.d. if patients still had symptomatic paroxysms of atrial fibrillation according to a questionnaire or on holter monitoring. In 46% of the patients, flecainide 100 mg b.i.d. caused total abolition of supraventricular tachycardia; after dose adjustment it caused 50% total abolition. For quinidine, the figures are 16% (p less than 0.05) and 32% (NS), respectively. Side effects occurred with flecainide only after dose adjustment (23%), but on quinidine they occurred before (8%) and after dose adjustment (20%). We conclude that flecainide suppresses paroxysms of atrial fibrillation significantly more often as compared with quinidine in the lower dosage regimen. Optimal treatment dosage of flecainide is 100 mg b.i.d. After quinidine dose adjustment, the difference in efficacy is no longer significant. However, side effects necessitating discontinuation of quinidine developed in 20% of the patients as compared to none in patients treated with flecainide 100 mg b.i.d.     

271. Tuberkulose nach lebertransplantation

Zusammenfassung Bei einem 55jährigen Mann wurde 7 Monate nach orthotoper Lebertransplantation eine Lungentuberkulose diagnostiziert. Die tuberculostatische Therapie erfolgte mit Isoniazid (3 x 0,2 g/Wo) und Ethambutol (1,6 g/d) über 11 Monate. Nach 3 Monaten waren keine Mycobakte rien mehr nachweisbar, und der Patient ist im 3. Jahr nach Transplantation ohne Zeichen einer aktiven Tuberkulose in gutem Gesundheitszustand bei guter Transplantatfunktion. Die Tuberculostatica-Dosierung sollte je nach Metabolisierungsleistung des Transplantats reduziert werden. Bei Beachtung dieses Kardinalpunktes könnte eine Tuberkulose nach Lebertransplantation erfolgreich behandelt werden.     

组织特异性胞嘧啶脱氨酶和5-氟胞嘧啶热化疗对裸鼠结肠癌肝脏转移的影响

Objective To investigate the effects of tissue specific cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) thermotherapy on hepatic metastasis of colonic carcinoma in nude mice. Methods Forty-five nude mice were randomly divided into control group, 5-FC group and 5-FC thermotherapy group according to the random number table (15 mice in each group). Mice models of hepatic metastasis of colonic carcinoma were established by portal vein injection of LoVo/CEACD cells. The hepatic metastasis rate and number of metastatic nodules of the 3 groups were compared by ehi-square test and one-way ANOVA. The pathological changes in tumor tissues and apoptotic index of tumor cells were observed. The expression of the CD gene in tumor tissues was detected by fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Results The number of metastatic nodules and liver metas-tasis rate were 4.6±1.3 and 100.0% in control group, 2.2±1.0 and 60.0% in 5-FC group, 0.5±0.8 and 13.3% in 5-FC thermotherapy group, with statistical difference among the 3 groups (F=25.898, χ2=5.208, 19.548, 5.168, P<0.05). The mean apoptotic indexes of tumor cells of the 3 groups were 4.6%, 9.9% and 17.4%, respectively. Vacuolar degeneration, cell necrosis, cytolysis and apoptotic bodies were mostly observed in the 5-FC thermotherapy group. The expression of CD gene in tumor tissue was detected in all the groups. Conclusion Tissue specific CD/5-FC thermotherapy has inhibitory effects on the hepatic metastasis of LoVo cells transfected with CD gene.