Endocrine profile of catch-up growth in the cynomolgus monkey

We studied catch-up growth following withdrawal of glucocorticoid administration in seven intact prepubertal cynomolgus monkeys. To reduce stress during blood sampling, a vascular access port was implanted subcutaneously in each animal for the duration of the study. After a baseline observation period of 50 weeks, the monkeys received injections of dexamethasone at a dose of 100 micrograms.kg-1.day-1 for 15 weeks. Growth velocity was monitored every 3 weeks by measuring lower leg length and body weight. Spontaneous serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations and GH levels after insulin and L-dopa stimulation, as well as serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and plasma thyrotropin, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, were measured during the study. Differences between animals were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance and Student's paired t-test. Mean +/- SEM growth velocity (mm/3 weeks) decreased from 0.90 +/- 0.08 during the baseline period to 0.29 +/- 0.07 (p < 0.001) during the period of growth retardation, and increased to 1.23 +/- 0.2 (p < 0.001) during the period of catch-up growth. Spontaneous GH and peak GH levels following insulin did not show any significant variation during the study. Peak GH during the L-dopa test decreased from 15.4 +/- 3.2 micrograms/l during the baseline period to 6.2 +/- 2.4 micrograms/l during the period of growth retardation (p < 0.05), and increased to 23.0 +/- 5.9 micrograms/l during the period of catch-up growth (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Ring-valve abscess--a diagnostic challenge]

Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening disease which may be complicated by ring-valve abscess. Since this complication increases morbidity and mortality early diagnosis is important. Pericardial effusion complicating infective endocarditis is uncommon and should raise suspicion of the presence of an abscess. We describe 2 patients admitted for infective endocarditis and pericarditis. In both, ring-valve abscess was suspected on clinical grounds. At surgery there was pathological confirmation of the diagnosis. Both patients underwent successful aortic valve replacement with complete recovery. Controlled trials are providing increasing evidence for the superiority of transesophageal echocardiography in detecting valvular vegetations. Moreover, it is the most accurate means of detecting ring-valve abscess in cases of infective endocarditis. In view of these advantages, we propose the use of transesophageal echocardiography in every case of infective endocarditis.

The development of a relevant and comprehensive research agenda to improve Hispanic health

The development of an appropriate research agenda for Hispanics requires progress in three areas: (a) developing an appropriate research infrastructure, (b) increasing the availability of appropriate research instrumentation, and (c) identifying and assigning priority areas. In addition, a Latino health research agenda must identify mechanisms for increasing the number of trained Hispanic researchers and the number of Latino professional staff members at the Department of Health and Human Services. It is recommended that an Office of Hispanic Health be established within the Office of Minority Health at the Department to oversee the implementation of the recommendations made as part of the Surgeon General's National Hispanic Health Initiative.

[The frontal bonding of a microprosthesis with respect to arch physiognomy]

A series of 4124 patients who presented at the Gnathoprosthetic Clinic of Iasi with dental coronary lesions were investigated. The dental lesions situated at the level of frontal arches, the possibilities of aggregating the microprostheses at this level and the clinical-technical procedure of realizing them were studied. By the joint efforts of the entire dental team, artificial substitutes completing the lack of dental substance were obtained and the physiognomic function, cosmetic harmony and facial esthetics were fully restored.

Inference of pair bonds from capture data based on low variation of the sex ratio among catches

Paired individuals of monogamous animal species often stay in close contact when moving in their home range and can be caught together if sampling is done by a method that does not disrupt their spatial association (e.g., capture of birds by mist nets). We propose a statistical procedure that uses the counts by sex of specimens in a number of samples to detect the presence of pairs and to roughly estimate the proportion of paired individuals in the population. This method appears to be efficient enough to be used with data sets of small to moderate size (10-40 samples of 2-10 specimens each). The use of the method is exemplified by an analysis of capture data from two European populations of bearded tit (Panurus biarmicus): a large set of 536 net samples (1,111 specimens) from Le Sambuc in Camargue, France, and a much smaller one of 46 samples (367 specimens) from Malcontenta, near Venice, Italy. A separate analysis of premolt juveniles in Malcontenta (15 samples, 53 individuals) detects a significant proportion of pairs among them. This finding confirms quantitatively the anecdotal observation of precocious pair formation in the bearded tit.

[The prosthetic saddle in physiognomic reconstruction of the dental-alveolar arches]

The investigation of 2087 patients with partially extended, subtotal and total edentations who presented to the Clinic of Dental Gnathoprosthetics of Iaşi made possible the assessment of the role and importance of prosthetic saddle in the physiognomic restoration in such patients. By applying the modern clinical and technical methods of designing and making the gnathoprosthetic apparatus, the physiognomy of dento-alveolar arches according to actual exigencies and observing the dento-facial harmony can be achieved.

[Physiognomic reconstruction of the dental arches in emergency treatment]

The gnathoprosthetic treatment in emergency is now a compulsory step in solving the esthetic problems raised by the affections of stomatognathic system (coronary lesions, edentation) localised in visible areas of dental arches. Nowadays, the state of stress induced by these affections can be relieved by an immediate and highly physiognomic treatment, a method at hand being the Scutan mask. Excellent technic results can be obtained by using conformators obtained by thermoplasticizing and vacuumating, in current use in our clinic.

Predictors of condom accessibility among Hispanics in San Francisco

Ready access to condoms can be an important means of slowing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus. We identified the factors associated with keeping or carrying condoms in a random-digit dialing survey of 522 Hispanic adults aged 18 to 65 years in San Francisco. Overall, more Hispanic men reported having condoms than Hispanic women (55.2% vs 23.8%). Hispanic men also reported much higher levels of risky sexual behavior than Hispanic women. Condom promotion efforts with Hispanics will require different approaches for each gender.

Percutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis. A study on 207 patients

In 207 cirrhotic patient carriers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) was administered with ultrasound guidance. The patients were classified as Child's Class A, 136; B, 54; and C, 17. Their mean age was 63.5 years, and the male-female ratio was 3.5:1. There was a single HCC less than 5 cm in diameter in 162 patients; 45 had more than one HCC. The follow-up ranged from 5 to 71 months (mean, 25 months). No noteworthy complications occurred during or after 2485 treatments. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival percentages (by the Kaplan-Meier method) for the patients with one HCC were 90%, 80%, and 63%, respectively. The corresponding percentages by Child's class were 97%, 92%, and 76% for Class A; 88%, 68%, and 42% for B; and 40%, 0%, and 0% for C. The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates for patients with more than one HCC were 90%, 67%, and 31% respectively. These results were similar to those found by others and showed that PEI was a safe, reproducible, easy-to-do, and low-cost therapeutic technique. In terms of survival, these PEI results were better than the published results of no treatment and equivalent to those of surgery. In uncontrolled series, bias can play an important role. Therefore, additional trials would be useful.

Percutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis. A study on 207 patients

In 207 cirrhotic patient carriers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) was administered with ultrasound guidance. The patients were classified as Child's Class A, 136; B, 54; and C, 17. Their mean age was 63.5 years, and the male-female ratio was 3.5:1. There was a single HCC less than 5 cm in diameter in 162 patients; 45 had more than one HCC. The follow-up ranged from 5 to 71 months (mean, 25 months). No noteworthy complications occurred during or after 2485 treatments. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival percentages (by the Kaplan-Meier method) for the patients with one HCC were 90%, 80%, and 63%, respectively. The corresponding percentages by Child's class were 97%, 92%, and 76% for Class A; 88%, 68%, and 42% for B; and 40%, 0%, and 0% for C. The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates for patients with more than one HCC were 90%, 67%, and 31% respectively. These results were similar to those found by others and showed that PEI was a safe, reproducible, easy-to-do, and low-cost therapeutic technique. In terms of survival, these PEI results were better than the published results of no treatment and equivalent to those of surgery. In uncontrolled series, bias can play an important role. Therefore, additional trials would be useful.

Percutaneous ethanol injection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis. A study on 207 patients

In 207 cirrhotic patient carriers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) was administered with ultrasound guidance. The patients were classified as Child's Class A, 136; B, 54; and C, 17. Their mean age was 63.5 years, and the male-female ratio was 3.5:1. There was a single HCC less than 5 cm in diameter in 162 patients; 45 had more than one HCC. The follow-up ranged from 5 to 71 months (mean, 25 months). No noteworthy complications occurred during or after 2485 treatments. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival percentages (by the Kaplan-Meier method) for the patients with one HCC were 90%, 80%, and 63%, respectively. The corresponding percentages by Child's class were 97%, 92%, and 76% for Class A; 88%, 68%, and 42% for B; and 40%, 0%, and 0% for C. The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates for patients with more than one HCC were 90%, 67%, and 31% respectively. These results were similar to those found by others and showed that PEI was a safe, reproducible, easy-to-do, and low-cost therapeutic technique. In terms of survival, these PEI results were better than the published results of no treatment and equivalent to those of surgery. In uncontrolled series, bias can play an important role. Therefore, additional trials would be useful.

[The use of intra-arterial lipiodol in assessing hepatocarcinomas treated by percutaneous alcoholization. The initial experience]

Eight patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by means of percutaneous alcoholization of the malignancy (11 nodular lesions less than 5 cm O). Upon treatment completion they were all given intraarterial injection of lipiodol, which was followed, a week later, by a CT scan. At angiography, during the parenchymal phase, 7 of 11 nodules appeared as avascular areas, whereas in the remaining 4 cases an intense parenchymal effect was seen within the previously treated areas. Lipiodol CT scans revealed intense uptake of oily material in the 4 hypervascular lesions as well as in 1 of those with avascular appearance. In 4 lesions, pathology of bioptic specimens obtained from the areas with contrast pooling was consistent with the persistence of viable neoplastic tissue. In these patients alcoholization had therefore to be continued. Lipiodol accumulation within previously treated nodules has proved to be related to the presence of residual neoplasm. Moreover, in 2 cases, focal retention of lipiodol was very helpful for biopsy under CT guidance. According to our experience, we believe lipiodol administration followed by CT to be very useful in evaluating and staging HCCs. We nevertheless believe that the procedure should be performed only after alcoholization has been completed: this would inform us of treatment effectiveness and subsequently enable us to decide whether treatment can be discontinued.

Growth hormone (GH) responses to the hexapeptide GH-releasing peptide and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in the cynomolgus macaque: evidence for non-GHRH-mediated responses

GH-releasing peptide (GHRP; His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2), a hexapeptide derived from enkephalin, has been shown to have GH-releasing activity in man and several animal species. To characterize the GHRP dose-response curve and compare it with that of GH-releasing hormone [GHRH-(1-44)NH2], six unanesthetized young adult cynomolgus macaques were tested with a range of iv doses of GHRP or GHRH in random order. Animals were fitted with vests and tethers. Blood samples were obtained before and at 15-min intervals after the administration of drugs. Doses ranged from 0.03-3 mg/kg for GHRP and from 1-30 micrograms/kg for GHRH. The dose-response curves for the two peptides were not parallel. GHRP had lower potency, but evoked a much higher peak GH response than GHRH (greater than 55 vs. 12 micrograms/L). Because one of the proposed mechanisms of action of GHRP is the inhibition of somatostatin (SS), we tested the effects of propranolol, which inhibits SS, on the GH responses to GHRH and GHRP. Propranolol was given at a dose of 14 micrograms/kg, iv, 10 min before the injection of saline, GHRH (10 micrograms/kg), or GHRP (1 mg/kg). GH responses to propranolol alone did not differ from those to placebo (peak, 6 +/- 2 vs. 8 +/- 2 micrograms/L). However, propranolol pretreatment doubled the GH responses to both GHRH and GHRP compared with those to GHRH or GHRP alone 28 +/- 5 micrograms/L vs. 14 +/- 5 (P less than 0.05) and 54 +/- 2 vs. 25 +/- 6 micrograms/L (P less than 0.001), respectively]. These results show that GHRP causes a potent dose-dependent release of GH in this primate species. Since GHRP can produce a greater maximal GH response than GHRH, mechanisms other than release of endogenous GHRH must be involved.

Preoperative and postoperative evaluations by means of three-dimensional computed tomography in cases of Chiari osteotomy

Three-dimensional computed tomography was employed to investigate the changes of pelvic and hip morphology in nine adult cases of congenital hip dysplasia. Six cases were treated with Chiari pelvic osteotomy and were reexamined postoperatively using the same technique. This new method clearly showed a number of important anatomic features that were not easy to detect with conventional roentgenography. Information provided by three-dimensional computed tomography imaging is useful in selecting the appropriate type of surgical treatment and in evaluating the results of Chiari pelvic osteotomy.

[Physiognomic reconstruction of the frontal arch with a microprosthesis]

The connective restoration of dental arches still raises physignomic problems. The less visible in the context of individual's facial architecture the more esthetic the prosthetic artifice is. Based on the statistic data of the Iaşi Clinic of Dental Prosthetics the results of the gnathoprosthetic treatment performed in the years 1987 and 1988 in 1,751 patients were evaluated. The efficiency was estimated by the quantitative relation between the various types of prostheses used in restoring the integrity of frontal arch.

Saccade-related responses of centrifugal neurons projecting to the chicken retina

Centrifugal projections to several sensory systems modulate the afferent activity during active behaviors. To see whether such modulation occurred in the visual system, we recorded the activity of isthmo-optic neurons in awake chickens during eye movements. We find that the discharge of all isthmo-optic neurons tends to stop during saccades, although every neuron does not pause for every saccade. The pause begins at approximately the same time as the saccade, and pause duration is correlated with saccade duration. Pausing during saccades occurs in both dark and light suggesting that it is motoric rather that visual in origin. In addition, we find that the spontaneous activity of isthmo-optic neurons increases in darkness. We discuss the significance of the saccadic modulation of isthmo-optic activity in terms of possible functions of the centrifugal projection in modulation of ganglion cell activity.

Attitudes and behaviors of Hispanic smokers: implications for cessation interventions

The smoking behavior of Hispanics, especially Mexican Americans, has been reported to differ from that of non-Hispanic whites, in both large gender differences in prevalence as well as a lower self-reported number of cigarettes smoked per day. This study compared the responses of a convenience sample of 263 Hispanic (44% Mexican American and 38% Central American) and 150 non-Hispanic white smokers, in order to identify other ethnic; gender, and acculturation differences in smoking behaviors. Hispanic women smoked fewer cigarettes and initiated smoking at a comparatively later age than Hispanic men; they were also less likely to smoke during pregnancy than non-Hispanic white women. Hispanics smoked more cigarettes on Saturday than other days, but this was not true for non-Hispanic whites. Will power (voluntad propia) and knowing the negative effects of smoking were considered the most helpful techniques for quitting by Hispanics. Considering that light smokers are able to quit with less intensive cessation techniques, these data suggest that a properly developed health education community intervention may have an impact on smoking rates among Hispanics.

Centrosome competition: a possibility?

A recent theory on the evolution of sexuality, has hypothesized heritable variation in the functional properties of centrosomes, leading to competition for the organization of the mitotic spindle when different centrosomes enter a common cytoplasm. We present here data on polyethylene glycol-induced polykaryocytes of cultured Chinese hamster fibroblasts indirectly supporting centrosome competition. On the assumption that sib centrosomes are similar and variation increases with cell generations, the frequencies of multipolar mitoses were compared in cultures fused under conditions favoring sib cell fusion or fusion of distantly related cells. Multipolar mitoses were considerably more frequent in the former, when the average difference between pairs of centrosomes was assumed to be too small for one centrosome to "outcompete" the other.

Feasibility of a telephone survey to study a minority community: Hispanics in San Francisco

In two random digit dialing surveys conducted among Hispanics using a modified Mitofsky-Waksberg procedure, we found low refusal rates (4.7% and 3.1%), low assumed noncontact rate (14.0% and 18.3%), and high response rates (88.6% and 88.4%) with limited investment in time (1.58 hours and 1.66 hours per completed interview). These results suggest that Hispanics are willing to participate in telephone surveys and that this method may be feasible and useful for research and evaluation purposes.

Aortic valve replacement during pregnancy. A case report and review of the literature

Aortic stenosis (AS) is an uncommon complication during pregnancy, but when it occurs it results in significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We present a gravida with severe AS in which aortic valve replacement was performed in the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy. She had severe AS with mild aortic regurgitation and severe congestive heart failure. Fetal heart rate and uterine activity were monitored and recorded during the operation. The pregnancy was carried uneventfully to term and the patient was delivered of a healthy baby. The literature is reviewed and recommendations are made for the management of AS during pregnancy.

[The diagnosis of mental discomfort during dental prosthetic treatment]

The authors present the forms the psychic discomfort may take during the prosthetic treatment and the importance of their diagnosis. This paper is the result of the investigations carried out in the Office of psychognathoprosthetics of the Clinic of Dental Prosthetics of Iaşi and synthesizes the results obtained by the prepsychiatric examination of 180 patients.

Retained surgical gauzes: acute and chronic CT and US findings

Surgical sponges retained after laparotomy represent a diagnostic problem if they cannot be identified by radiopaque markers on standard radiographs. We report on 9 patients from different hospitals with an abdominal gossypiboma 7 days to 21 years after the surgical procedure. Plain radiographs may suggest the diagnosis if a textile foreign body is calcified, that is, is equipped with radiopaque marker, or when a characteristic "whirl-like" pattern is present. CT and US are necessary procedures in chronic cases, since the lesion may mimic a mass; US shows specific echogenic areas with acoustic shadow; CT usually reveals a hypodense mass with a thick peripheral rim.