Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney presenting as intraocular metastasis

A newborn infant presented with intraocular tumor that was clinically diagnosed as retinoblastoma and treated by exenteration of the globe. Within a few weeks however, a large abdominal mass was noted, which was found to involve the left kidney and right lobe of liver. Pathologic evaluation of the intraocular mass as well as fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the abdominal mass revealed features of malignant rhabdoid tumor. To our knowledge this is the first case of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney with such an unusual clinical presentation.

Local myocardial biochemical and ionic alterations during myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion

Acute myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion result in a series of inhomogeneous metabolic, ionic and neurohumoral events that explain the associated mechanical and electrical events, including cardiac death. The time course of the hydrolysis of high energy phosphates, the rise in extracellular potassium and the fall in intracellular and extracellular pH induced by acute no-flow ischaemia have been well characterised. However, the time course of the changes in intracellular sodium, calcium and magnesium levels is less clear. It appears that the changes in intracellular calcium may be pivotal to many of the biochemical and electrophysiological changes produced by the abrupt cessation of coronary arterial inflow and the associated interruption of venous washout. Consequently, agents that modify the handling of calcium by the sarcolemma and the sarcoplasmic reticulum have a significant impact on many of the metabolic, ionic and electrical abnormalities characterising acute ischaemia and reperfusion.

Extensive keloids following hair transplantation

Hair transplant surgery is a highly successful procedure for improving alopecia. However, this procedure is not without its potential risks and complications. A case of a large keloidal scar following hair transplantation is presented. Those performing hair transplant surgery should be aware of this significant potential complication, especially in Black and Oriental individuals, who are more prone to keloid formation.

Serum CA 125 levels in early pregnancy and subsequent spontaneous abortion

CA 125 has been found in high concentrations in human amniotic fluid throughout gestation, with significant quantities seen in the decidua and chorion. Because disruption of the epithelial basement membrane of the fetal membrane or the decidua could theoretically lead to a rise in maternal CA 125 levels, this increase may be a predictor of subsequent spontaneous abortion of the fetus. A study was initiated to investigate whether a sudden rise in the serum CA 125 level might predict spontaneous first-trimester abortions. CA 125 levels of 101 pregnant women were evaluated 18-22 days from conception and 6 weeks from conception (a frequent time for spontaneous abortion) to determine whether there is a sudden increase (from baseline or early trimester levels) during the middle or late first trimester immediately before or at the time of abortion. The results indicated that although there was a definite correlation found between elevation of CA 125 and spontaneous abortion, the higher levels occurred early in the first trimester whereas the majority of abortions did not occur until much later, after fetal viability was established. Six of ten women with CA 125 levels of 150 U/mL or greater aborted, compared with four of 92 women with CA 125 levels less than 150 U/mL. One of 11 women pregnant after in vitro fertilization had a CA 125 level above 150 U/mL, and she aborted.

Bioeconomic dynamics of a fishery modeled as an S-system

A bioeconomic model of a single species fishery is developed by using a realistic catch-rate function and assuming that a regulatory agency controls exploitation of the fishery by imposing a suitable tax on the catch. The existence of a nontrivial steady state and its stability are examined. The optimal harvesting policy is discussed from the viewpoints of variational calculus and control theory. The fishery is then modeled as an S-system by following the recasting techniques of Savageau and Voit. Numerical examples of the optimal control curves and the yield-effort curves are obtained by executing the ESSYNS algorithm.

Gamma camera image acquisition, display, and processing with the personal microcomputer

The authors evaluated the potential of a microcomputer for direct acquisition, display, and processing of gamma camera images. Boards for analog-to-digital conversion and image zooming were designed, constructed, and interfaced to the Macintosh II (Apple Computer, Cupertino, Calif). Software was written for processing of single, gated, and time series images. The system was connected to gamma cameras, and its performance was compared with that of dedicated nuclear medicine computers. Data could be acquired from gamma cameras at rates exceeding 200,000 counts per second, with spatial resolution exceeding intrinsic camera resolution. Clinical analysis could be rapidly performed. This system performed better than most dedicated nuclear medicine computers with respect to speed of data acquisition and spatial resolution of images while maintaining full compatibility with the standard image display, hard-copy, and networking formats. It could replace such dedicated systems in the near future as software is refined.

Selective separation of virus proteins and double-stranded RNAs by SDS-KCl precipitation

The total viral structural polypeptides and the double-stranded genomic RNAs of bluetongue virus can be selectively separated by a single SDS-KCl precipitation step. This simple, rapid and highly reproducible method enables greater than 95% recovery and purity of both viral proteins and dsRNAs within 30 min. The serotypic identity of the separated dsRNAs can be analyzed by SDS-PAGE electrophorogram immediately. After a single phenol/chloroform extraction, the dsRNA can also be used as hybridization probes, templates for molecular cloning and direct RNA sequencing. The SDS-KCl-precipitated viral proteins could be used readily for peptide mapping and as immunogens. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised against SDS-KCl-precipitated viral structural polypeptides were useful in Western immunoblots.

Effect of switching diets on growth and digesta kinetics of cattle

An approach was developed for describing live weight gain and the contribution of wet gut fill gain to live weight gain in growing cattle. In a continuous growth study, energy densities of winter:spring diets were used to define four treatment groups of cattle. Concentrates and forages were the major ingredients of higher and lower energy-density diets, respectively. Cattle receiving high and low energy sequences (HH and LL) were designated as control groups and were compared with two change-over groups: high to low (HL) and low to high (LH). Switches involved simultaneous changes in several feed characteristics. Every 2 wk for 4 mo, 39 heifers and 19 steers were weighed. Switching young cattle to another diet affected growth during the 2 wk immediately after the switch. After being switched to the lower energy-density diet (i.e., pasture), HL and LL groups lost (P less than .001) from 3.5 to 27.4 kg in both fed and fasted weight. Neither fed nor fasted weights of HH and LH steers changed during the switch to the higher energy-density diet (i.e., concentrates); HH and LH heifers continued to gain (P less than .001). Throughout the remainder of the study, growth rates of cattle were similar for HH and LH groups and for HL and LL groups. In spring, cattle consuming concentrate diets (HH and LH) had greater fill (P less than .001) than pasture-fed contemporaries (HL and LL). Less frequent measurement of growth characteristics would have obscured important facets of growth. A loss of weight followed by continuous gain is not equivalent to a reduced growth rate.

Long-term efficacy of oral pirmenol in suppressing ventricular premature depolarizations

Pirmenol is an investigational type 1A antiarrhythmic drug the long-term efficacy of which has not been fully determined. Therefore the long-term efficacy of oral pirmenol in suppressing ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) was assessed in an open-label, dose-titration study. Twelve patients (eight men and four women; mean age 57 +/- 12 years) were treated for 24 to 36 months (mean 33 +/- 4). Seven had structural heart disease (three valvular heart disease, two ischemic heart disease, and two hypertensive heart disease) and five did not. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.63 +/- 0.13. Exclusion criteria included less than 30 VPDs/hr, greater than 15 beats of ventricular tachycardia (VT), or prior failure of more than two antiarrhythmic drugs. Drug efficacy was assessed by 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring performed every 3 months during the first year, every 4 months during the second year, and at 6-month intervals during the third year. The mean hourly frequency of VPDs during the placebo phase was 732 +/- 608. Seven patients (58%) were treated successfully with effective (greater than 75%) long-term suppression of VPDs. Two patients (17%) had a partial response with effective suppression of VPDs for the first 16 months and 5 months of treatment, respectively. Three patients failed to show consistent suppression of VPDs while receiving pirmenol. The daily dose of pirmenol ranged from 200 to 500 mg (mean 317 +/- 94 mg at the beginning of the study and 375 +/- 97 mg at the end). No proarrhythmic effects were identified during long-term treatment, and none of the patients withdrew from the study prematurely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Responses of dairy cattle to long-term and short-term supplementation with oral selenium and vitamin E1

In a two-lactation-gestation cycle experiment, 152 Holstein cows with low serum Se and vitamin E were fed total mixed rations and assigned at parturition to four groups (1, control; 2, 500 IU vitamin E/d; 3, 2 mg Se/d; 4, 500 IU vitamin E plus 2 mg Se/d). Supplements were not fed during dry periods. Serum Se and vitamin E were increased within 1 mo by oral supplements. Maximal mean serum Se in cycles 1 (67 ng/ml at 7 mo) and 2 (74 ng/ml at 4 mo) occurred in groups 3 and 4, respectively. Maximal mean serum vitamin E in cycle 1 (3.3 micrograms/ml at mo 8) and 2 (3.03 micrograms/ml at mo 2) occurred in groups 4 and 2, respectively. Selenium treatment of the dams increased Se in colostrum and in serum of presuckle calves. Vitamin E supplementation of dams did not affect vitamin E in serum of presuckled calves. Reproductive performance was not affected by supplement. In an 8-wk study, 24 lactating cows with low serum Se were assigned (6/group) to 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg supplemental Se/d. Maximal mean serum Se concentrations of 23, 56, 71, and 79 ng/ml were attained by wk 4 in the above respective groups. These data indicate that 2 to 2.5 mg supplemental Se/cow per d were inadequate for desirable serum Se concentrations and support recent changes in allowed Se supplementation for dairy cattle.

Radiation sensitivity and DNA repair in Caenorhabditis elegans strains with different mean life spans

The sensitivities to three DNA damaging agents (UV and gamma-radiation, methyl methanesulfonate) were measured in four recombinant inbred (RI) strains of Caenorhabditis elegans with mean life spans ranging from 13 to 30.9 days, as well as in the wild-type strains used to derive these RI's. Sensitivities at several stages in the developmental cycle were tested. There were no significant correlations between mean life span and the lethal effects of these 3 agents. Excision of two UV-radiation-induced DNA photoproducts was also measured. Long-lived strains were no more repair competent than shorter-lived strains. These data indicate that DNA repair plays at best a minor role in the aging process of C. elegans.

Antitussive properties of inhaled bronchodilators on induced cough

We have studied the antitussive effects of two anticholinergic agents, oxitropium bromide (200 micrograms) and ipratropium bromide (80 micrograms), and a combined beta-agonist and anticholinergic preparation containing fenoterol hydrobromide (200 micrograms) and ipratropium bromide (80 micrograms), in 16 normal and ten asthmatic volunteers in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Cough was induced by inhalation of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water and hypotonic saline solution. All treatments significantly reduced the cough response to inhaled distilled water aerosol when compared with placebo (p less than 0.001). There was no difference between oxitropium bromide and ipratropium bromide (p greater than 0.05), but the combination preparation displayed a greater antitussive effect than either oxitropium bromide (p less than 0.05) or ipratropium bromide (p less than 0.025). Cough frequencies in response to hypotonic 0.18 and 0.32 percent saline aerosol were lower than those obtained with distilled water (p less than 0.005) for all treatments. Asthmatic patients coughed less frequently than normal volunteers in response to all solutions when placebo was given (p less than 0.05), but there is no evidence to suggest that the response to treatment was different in the two groups. Our results suggest that inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilators alone or in combination with beta 2-adrenergic agonists might be effective in the treatment of pathologic cough.

Indium-111 platelet kinetics in patients with diabetes mellitus

We performed in vitro aggregation and indium-111 labeled platelet kinetic and biodistribution studies in seven patients with diabetes mellitus and in five control subjects. All subjects were male. All diabetic patients were poorly controlled at the time of study with blood glucose greater than 140 mg % and hemoglobin A1c greater than 10%. In vivo kinetic and biodistribution studies were performed following reinjection of autologous platelets labeled with indium-111 oxine in a dose of approximately 50 microCi (42-67 microCi). Images obtained at 4 and 24 h were computer-analyzed to determine splenic and hepatic uptake, and platelet survival times were calculated using four mathematical models. Unexpectedly, diabetic patients with fewer vascular complications tended to have shorter platelet survival times than patients with advanced vascular disease. However, no significant differences were observed between diabetic and control groups for any of the parameters of platelet function evaluated.

Inhibition of artificially induced cough in man by bronchodilators

1. The antitussive properties of bronchodilators were evaluated in a total of 47 normal volunteers. 2. Cough was induced by inhalation of ultrasonically nebulized solutions of distilled water and hypotonic saline. 3. Inhaled fenoterol hydrobromide (360 micrograms; 20 volunteers) and inhaled ipratropium bromide (72 micrograms; 14 volunteers) both significantly reduced couch compared with placebo (P less than 0.01). Oral salbutamol sulphate (4 mg; 11 volunteers) and oral pirenzepine hydrochloride (50 mg; 14 volunteers) had lesser effects. 4. Cough inhibition correlated with a small but statistically significant degree of bronchodilatation as measured by specific airway conductance (sGaw) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in six normal subjects studied with each treatment in a placebo controlled, double blind study (r = 0.67, P less than 0.001). 5. Small reductions in airway tone are associated with a reduced cough response elicited by inhaled ultrasonically nebulized distilled water.

Fetal and maternal Doppler flow velocity waveforms in normal sheep pregnancy

Abnormalities in placental vascular resistance have been shown to have an important association with intrauterine growth retardation in both human and sheep pregnancies. In this study we have assessed impedance to blood flow through the ovine placental circulation by Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis. As gestation advanced from 66 to 136 days, a significant decrease in impedance to flow was observed in both umbilical and maternal placental arteries. The greatest decrease in impedance was observed between 66 and 109 days' gestation in umbilical arteries and between 66 and 80 days' gestation in maternal placental arteries. In these normal pregnancies, no significant correlations could be found between Doppler flow velocity waveform analyses and fetal or placental growth. We conclude that Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis is a valuable and non-invasive method to assess impedance to blood flow through the placental circulation in pregnant sheep.

Nonfunctional photomultiplier tubes can produce subtle total-body scan defects

Nonfunctional photomultiplier tubes produce subtle total body scan defects. The resultant scan shows bands of reduced activity which are far less obvious than those seen on a standard image.

The preservation of urine samples for determination of renal stone risk factors

A preservation technique for urine specimens before determination of stone risk factors was evaluated. The purpose of these experiments was to prove the effectiveness of the preservatives used to prevent changes in the concentrations of those constituents measured. Measured concentrations in fresh specimens were compared with those in the same specimens after storage with the preservatives. Refrigeration at 4 degrees C up to five days was appropriate in a laboratory setting, as no significant changes in urinary concentrations occurred. Refrigeration, however, did not offer a convenient method for shipping. Chemical preservation was found to be an effective alternative to refrigeration. Thymol prevented changes in concentration of pH, citrate, uric acid, sulfate, sodium, potassium, and cyclic AMP, while a mixture of hydrochloric (HCl) acid and boric acid prevented changes in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, oxalate, ammonium, and creatinine. Thus, the addition of thymol or HCl/boric acid to urine specimens will prevent significant changes in the concentrations of stone risk factors.

Effects of increasing intercellular resistance on transverse and longitudinal propagation in sheep epicardial muscle

Propagation in cardiac muscle is faster in the longitudinal than in the transverse axis of the cells. Yet, as a result of the larger upstroke velocity of action potentials propagating transversely, it has been suggested that longitudinal propagation is more vulnerable to block. To study the relation between conduction velocity and maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax), as well as the time course of conduction delay and block in the transverse vs. longitudinal direction, thin square pieces of sheep epicardial muscle were superfused with the cellular uncoupler heptanol (1.5 mM). Action potentials were recorded with microelectrodes at opposite corners of the preparation while stimulating alternately in the longitudinal or transverse direction with bipolar electrodes located at contralateral corners. In all cases, block occurred more promptly for transverse than for longitudinal propagation. The decrease in conduction velocity was greater than expected for Vmax decay and, in some cases, Vmax increased while conduction velocity decreased. In the presence of high grade conduction impairment, foot potentials appeared and the upstrokes became "notched." We conclude that when intercellular coupling is impaired, transverse propagation is more vulnerable to block, and need not be dependent on changes in Vmax.