Secondary avascular necrosis after treatment for congenital dislocation of the hip

We made a radiographic study of 104 unilateral congenital dislocations of the hip (CDH) that had an average age of 12 months (range 4-24), were treated with the same therapeutic protocol, and had an average six years follow-up (range 3-13). Radiographic changes were evident in the proximal femoral epiphysis in 57 hips (55%). In 7 (7%) the changes consisted of central osteoporosis with a cystic aspect, without metaphyseal or physeal changes, and had a normal end result without sequelae. This group was classified as type I. Fifty hips (48%) that were type II showed epiphyseal changes consisting of trabecular rarefaction with osteoporosis and irregular sclerosis, followed by a decrease of epiphyseal height and trabecular recovery. Forty-two hips (40%) were type IIA, with < 75% decrease in epiphyseal height with respect to the healthy side; five of these had a normal evolution, 35 had coxa magna and/or decrease of epiphyseal height, and only two cases had physeal lesion. In type IIB, hips, with > 75% decrease of epiphyseal height, 8 cases (8%) had a final physeal lesion.

Traumatic hip dislocation with incomplete reduction due to soft-tissue interposition in a 4-year-old boy

The case of a traumatic dislocation of the left hip in a 4-year-old boy is presented. After an initial attempt at reduction under general anesthesia, a permanent deformity in the flexion of the hip remained, and there was radiographic evidence of a nonconcentric reduction. Computed tomography (CT) showed interposition in the posterior part of the joint. Under general anesthesia, the mobilization of the hip reduced the dislocation correctly, removing the necessity of open treatment. This case stresses the need for early diagnosis of this serious complication and closed reduction of the joint, avoiding the poor results of open and deferred treatments.

Temperature dependence of lipoxygenase heat inactivation; evaluation with linearly increasing temperature profiles

A non-isothermal kinetic method for evaluating the temperature dependence of enzyme heat inactivation has been developed from theoretical considerations. By using a non-linear regression software programme and enzyme activity data obtained along linearly increasing temperature profiles, z values of lipoxygenase were obtained in single experiments, substantially reducing time, cost, and labour. The z values so obtained were slightly dependent on heating rate, varying from 4.11 degrees C at a rate of heating of 2.56 degrees C/min to 4.66 degrees C at a heating rate of 1.48 degrees C/min.

Continuous determination of endopolygalacturonase activity by means of rotational viscosimeters

A continuous viscosimetric method for the determination of endopolygalacturonase activity has been developed from theoretical considerations. The method is based upon the decrease in the specific viscosity of a sodium polygalacturonate solution caused by the action of the enzyme and measured by means of a rotational viscosimeter. The assay has advantages over other viscosimetric methods previously described and over those which rely on the reducing groups assay. The suitability of the newly developed method for measuring the heat resistance of endopolygalacturonase samples has been tested and proved to be satisfactory.

[Gastrointestinal complications in renal transplantation]

Seventy-nine gastrointestinal complications in 480 recipients of a renal transplant (RT) (16%) are described. The most frequent complication was high digestive haemorrhage (HDH) (19/480) (2.9%); other complications were: esophagitis, gastroenteritis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, intestinal tuberculosis, rectal ulcer and colonic polyps. Mortality secondary to gastrointestinal complications was 1.1%. Sixty-seven percent of cases with peptic ulcer developed HDH, an incidence higher than that observed in the general population (20%). Twenty-one percent of transplanted patients with DH had ulcer background. Cholecystitis and diverticulitis were complications with a low incidence (0.2% and 0.6%, respectively) which do not seem to justify aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic manoeuvres prior to the transplant. Prevalence of intestinal tuberculosis in this series (0.4%) was higher to that described in the literature.

Extracellular proteinase from Enterococcus faecalis subsp. liquefaciens. II. Partial purification and some technological important properties

An extracellular proteinase from Enterococcus faecalis subsp. liquefaciens has been purified 780-fold by a method including gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and affinity chromatography with gramicidin J as ligand. Approximately 15% of the original enzyme activity was recovered. A purification of 14,800-fold, with 11.4% yield, may be reached using chromatofocusing as final step in the purification procedure. The molar mass of the enzyme has been estimated to be approximately 30 kDa by Sephadex gel filtration and approximately 26 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric point has been found to be 4.6. Maximum enzyme activity of the proteinase has been observed at pH 7.5 and 45 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolyzed bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactoalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, casein and pork myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins. The extracellular proteinase was very stable; the enzyme maintained its activity in cell-free extracts over a very wide range of temperatures (-25 to 37 degrees C) for at least 2 months. At 12 degrees C, it was stable in the pH range of 5.5 to 8.0.

Extracellular proteinase from Enterococcus faecalis subsp. liquefaciens. I. Growth and extracellular proteinase production under different culture conditions

Growth and extracellular proteinase production by Enterococcus faecalis subsp. liquefaciens was studied on several culture media and under different incubation conditions. The organisms grew well and developed extracellular proteinase activity on proteinaceous media, but when it grew on Collins basal medium (lacking of protein), growth was poor and proteinase activity was not detected. The activation energy for growth was estimated to be 116 kJ/mol, the optimum being at 37 degrees C. Proteinase production was not affected by temperature in the range studied (7-45 degrees C). Growth rate was not affected by aeration although a higher amount of microorganisms was observed on shaking the culture during incubation. Likewise, extracellular proteolytic activity was about twice higher in cultures shaken at 2.3 or 3.3 Hz than in those shaken at 0 or 1.3 Hz.

[Infiltrating transitional carcinoma of the bladder (I). Comparison of 2 groups treated with preoperative radiotherapy (long-term protocol and short-term protocol) + radical cystectomy versus radical cystectomy only. Analysis of local recurrence and metastasis]

We analyze our experience in 175 patients with transitional bladder cancer for whom radical cystectomy was indicated. Patients were divided into three groups: one group was managed with radical cystectomy only and the other two with pre-operative radiotherapy: long-term approach and short-term approach. No significant differences have been observed when comparing current survival rate and disease-free intervals of all three groups. It can be deduced from our series that, by the scarce number of local recurrences observed, there is no other measure to be added to surgery directed to improve the tumour's local management. Most metastasis were diagnosed within 18 months after cystectomy. 58.4% patients presented bone dissemination. The risk of distant dissemination increases with the extent of vesical wall invasion, degree of anaplasia and presence of positive glands. The gland stage is not necessary for the metastasis to be present. Death's ratio with distant dissemination is significantly lower in the group managed Without pre-operative radiotherapy than in the others. Of the 11 patients where no tumour was observed in the cystectomy piece, 2 developed metastasis, indicating that this was already present before bladder extraction. Management of patients with infiltrating++ bladder cancer is complex, but no efforts should be spared to advise the most appropriate approach for each particular case. Chemotherapy plays an unquestionable role among the procedures we have to control, since most patients' deaths happen within two years after local-regional treatment of the primitive tumour and nearly all of them as a consequence of metastasis. Cytostatic agents are the only effective therapy for distant dissemination. We believe that every patient with a cancer extended to the perivesical fat or with dissemination to regional glands, whichever the stage, should be treated with chemotherapy after extirpation of the bladder, and starting as early as the patient's general status would allow it.

[Adrenal hemorrhage in newborn infants]

A retrospective clinical description of 7 newborn infants with adrenal haemorrhage. All patients were born at term by vaginal delivery. Their birth weights ranged between 2,550 and 3,950, and only one was small for gestational age. Two patients had Apgar scores less than 6 at one minute and both were born by forceps delivery. The first symptom of adrenal haemorrhage was an abdominal mass. Diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography demonstrating a right adrenal echogenic mass which displaced the Kidney which disappeared along a few and all patients survived.

[Lucilia sericata infestation of the skin openings for the bone traction device in lengthening of the tibia: apropos of a case]

Fly larvae are responsible for animal disease well known by veterinarians. However, their finding in humans in nontropical countries is a rarity. Recently, we have found several larvae of Lucilia sericata in an achondroplastic child during the phase of lengthening of both tibiae with osteotax. We think that the myasis diagnosed in our patient is the first such case reported in the literature. For the time being, it should be considered a fortuitous finding and not as a complication of surgery.

[Atrioventricular block in Kearns-Sayre syndrome]

We report a case of a 17-year-old woman with Kearns-Sayre Syndrome who developed a high degree atrioventricular block. She had intraventricular conduction disturbances with normal atrioventricular conduction in previous electrocardiograms. The diagnosis criteria of this rare syndrome are commented on, and we describe the electrophysiological features, prognostic and treatment that atrioventricular conduction disturbances produce in these patients. We emphasize the necessary collaboration between neurologists and cardiologists in the early recognition of the conduction disturbances for implanting a prophylactic pacemaker.

The binding of 3H-labelled androgen-receptor complexes to hypothalamic chromatin of neonatal mice: effect of sex and androgenization

The binding of 3H-labelled androgen-receptor complexes, prepared by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation from the 105,000 g supernatant of hypothalamic cytosol, to hypothalamic chromatin of neonatal mice covalently coupled to cellulose was measured in vitro. Saturation binding was also determined after extraction of histones and the masking of acidic proteins with high molarities of guanidine hydrochloride. This investigation showed the presence of high-affinity, low-capacity acceptor sites for [3H]-testosterone-receptor complexes in male hypothalamic chromatin (Kd value = 0.39 x 10(-10) M and binding sites of 41 fmol per mg of DNA). Acceptor activity seems to be associated with the acidic protein fraction of chromatin. No specific acceptor sites of similar nature were found in chromatin taken from the hypothalami of female mice. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the androgen-unresponsiveness of female mice is related to the absence of acceptors for the androgen-receptor in female mice hypothalami.

Effect of heat and ultrasonic waves on the survival of two strains of Bacillus subtilis

The combined effect of ultrasonic (20 KHz, 150 W) and heat treatment on the survival of two strains of Bacillus subtilis in three suspending media (distilled water, glycerol and milk) has been studied. When spores suspended in water or milk were subjected to ultrasonic waves before heat treatments a little or no decrease of the heat resistance was observed. However, both sporicidal agents applied simultaneously (thermo-ultrasonication) decreased by 63% (B. subtilis, var. niger-40) and 74% (B. subtilis ATCC 6051) the decimal reduction times for the heat treatment when the spores were suspended in glycerol and by 79% and 40%, respectively when suspended in milk. The thermo-ultrasonication of spores in water markedly reduced the heat resistance of them (between 99.9% and 70%) in the range 70-95 degrees C but the effect of the thermo-ultrasonication significantly diminished as the temperature of the treatment was approached to the boiling point of the water.

Effects of neonatal androgenization on growth and carcass composition in female mice

Sixty female mice were injected neonatally with testosterone propionate. This led to an increase in body weight at 56 days (P less than 0.01) and a reduction in carcass fat (P less than 0.005). Food conversion ratio from 28 to 49 days was lower in the treated group than in the controls (P less than 0.01). The data indicate that treated females can reach values similar to those of males. Histological studies revealed a lack of luteal tissue in treated females at 56 days. This effect might be due to a modification in the nervous control of ovarian activity. Growth hormone secretion was higher in treated females than in controls (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that androgenization of females to achieve the performance characteristics of intact males could have important implications in meat production.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) promotes cartilage repair in vivo

Although it has been clearly established that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is a potent mitogen for chondrocytes in vitro, there is little evidence that it can stimulate this cell type in vivo. In an effort to address this problem, we examined the effect of an intraarticular administration of basic FGF. Alzet osmotic pumps delivering the mitogen to the site of injury promotes the healing of intra-chondrial lesions by stimulating chondrocyte proliferation and the formation of extracellular matrix. The observation that chronic infusions of basic FGF can elicit a repair response at the site of injury suggests that this growth factor may have therapeutic applications that extend beyond its capacity to induce neovascularization. The results also suggest that one of the ways that the perichondrium mediates cartilage repair may be by the local production of FGF-like mitogens.

Oestradiol and testosterone binding sites in mice tibiae and their relationship with bone growth

High affinity oestradiol and testosterone binding sites were found in tibiae cytosol from entire male and female of different ages. Scatchard assay allowed to estimate a Kd of 2.7 X 10(-9) M for oestradiol binding sites indicating that the 3H-oestradiol binding was of high affinity. Oestradiol and testosterone binding sites abundance in mice tibiae are subject to change with age. It is not easy to establish a direct correlation between these changes and the values reported here on bone growth in weight and length, however seems possible to point a negative relationship between bone lengthening and oestradiol binding site levels in female, as well a positive relationship with testosterone in both sexes. The presence of oestradiol and testosterone binding sites in epiphyses and not in the diaphyses reinforces the hypothesis that both are playing some role in bone growth.

[Effect of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage on calcium incorporation and adrenergic innervation of the cerebral arteries of the cat]

The effect of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on the adrenergic innervation and on the 45Ca2+ uptake of cat cerebral arteries was analyzed. Intracisternal injections of autologous blood reduced the noradrenaline content of perivascular nerve endings and 3H-noradrenaline uptake. These values returned to normal levels in a period of two weeks after SAH. The activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase was also reduced 3 and 7 days after SAH. Superior cervical gangliectomy and intracisternal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine also reduced these three parameters. The uptake of 45Ca2+ by arteries from animals submitted to SAH was greater than if the blood vessels were from untreated cats. Lantanum brought about a less 45Ca2+ displacement in the arterial segments from untreated animals than in those from cats after SAH. These results suggest that SAH induces a transient adrenergic denervation as well as changes in the membrane of smooth muscle cell which increase the quantity of Ca2+ bound to it. All these modifications might be involved in the cause of chronic cerebral vasospasm that appears after SAH.

The binding of [3H]oestradiol-receptor complex to hypothalamic chromatin of male and female mice

Histones and masking acidic proteins were removed from hypothalamic chromatin in order to evaluate/measure the number of available acceptor sites for the [3H]oestradiol-receptor complex. This number increases after dehistonizing and unmasking and is lower than published values for comparable preparations. No sex-related difference in [3H]oestradiol-receptor binding to hypothalamic chromatin in vitro was observed. Failure to observe such a difference suggests that sexual differentiation and steroid sensitivity cannot be attributed to marked differences in the degree of chromatin masking.

Further purification and characterization of diacetyl reducing enzymes from beef liver

Two diacetyl reducing enzymes have been isolated from beef liver. One of them, a monomer of mol. wt 28-30,000 dalton and pI 6.2, corresponds to the low molecular weight diacetyl reductase formerly accounted for using preparations of this organ; it has been now identified as an L-glycol dehydrogenase. The other one, an oligomer of 78,000 dalton and pI 7.0, which matches the high molecular weight diacetyl reductase, is, in the authors' opinion, a new enzyme for which the systematic name L(+)-alpha-hydroxycarbonyl: NAD(P) oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1...) and common name alpha-dicarbonyl reductase are proposed.

Bovine skeletal muscle adenosine deaminase. Purification and some properties

A low molecular weight form of adenosine deaminase from bovine skeletal muscle was purified about 930-fold. The enzyme had a mol. wt of 31,000, a Km value for adenosine of 2.37 X 10(-5) M and a pH optimum at 7.0. This enzyme is very resistant to heat inactivation and does not require metal activators or other dialysable cofactors. A possible role in the post-mortem metabolism of adenine nucleotide in skeletal muscle is discussed.

Kinetics of alpha-dicarbonyls reduction by L-glycol dehydrogenase from hen muscle

Michaelis constants of L-glycol dehydrogenase from hen muscle (isozyme of pI 7.2) for the alpha-dicarbonyls tested (glyoxal, 2,3-pentanedione, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl) range from 35 microM for pentanedione to 0.41 mM for glyoxal. The enzyme shows a high affinity for NADPH, Km (2.2-3.1 microM), and Ks (1.2-1.9 microM) being so much lower than its tissue concentration that L-glycol dehydrogenase has to operate in vivo saturated with the coenzyme; this condition is very unfavorable to play a role in regulating the equilibrium oxidized/reduced forms of the pyridine nucleotides, as it has been proposed for some similar enzymes. Convergence of the double reciprocal plots and the pattern of inhibition by products and by acetone, a substrate analog, demonstrate that glyoxal reduction--and most likely that of diacetyl--proceeds via an ordered Bi-Bi mechanism in which NADPH is fixed before the addition of the carbonyl; the reduction of methylglyoxal and 2,3-pentanedione could follow the same model, but our experimental results are also consistent with that of Theorell-Chance.

Purification and some properties of L-glycol dehydrogenase from hen's muscle

1. An enzyme which catalyzes the NAD(P)H-linked reversible reduction of uncharged vicinal dicarbonyls and alpha-hydroxycarbonyls to L-(+)-glycols has been purified from hen's muscle. This enzyme has not been previously described. 2. According to the rules of the I.U.P.A.C.-I.U.B. Enzymes Commission, the systematic name of L-(+)-glycol:NAD(P) oxidoreductase and the trivial name of L-glycol dehydrogenase are proposed for the enzyme. 3. Three forms of this enzyme differing in pI have been isolated; two forms, which together represent about 90% of total recovered activity, and electrophoretically pure. 4. Molecular weight, pH profiles and affinity for substrates are also described.

Effect of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage on the adrenergic innervation of cerebral arteries

The effect of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on the adrenergic innervation of cat cerebral arteries was analyzed. Intracisternal injections of autologous blood reduced the noradrenaline content from the perivascular nerves. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase and the uptake of 3H-noradrenaline were also decreased. These changes returned to normal in a period of 2 to 3 weeks after the SAH. Superior cervical ganglionectomy and intracisternal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine also reduced these three parameters. It is suggested that SAH induces a transient adrenergic denervation of the cerebral arteries that might be involved in the production of the chronic cerebral vasospasm.

Cerebrovascular reactivity to noradrenaline and serotonin following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

This study analyzes the time course of the changes induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the sensitivity of cat cerebral arteries to noradrenaline and serotonin. Cerebral arteries to noradrenaline and serotonin. Cerebral arteries displayed a supersensitivity to these amines, which was most marked 3 days after the experiment and then gradually disappeared. The supersensitivity to serotonin was greater and longer than the response to noradrenaline. The increase in the vascular contractile response induced by SAH was similar to that seen after superior cervical ganglionectomy or intracisternal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine. It is suggested that supersensitivity to noradrenaline and serotonin induced by SAH may be involved in the production of chronic cerebral vasospasm.

Bilateral innervation of the cerebral arteries by the superior cervical ganglion in cats

The effect of removal of the left superior cervical ganglion on the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated segments of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior communicating artery (PCoA) of the cat. Fifteen days after the excision, each dose of NE elicited a potentiated response in both the MCA and the PCoA, whichever side they originated. By contrast, 5-HT induced enhanced vasoconstriction at each dose only in the MCA and PCoA from the left side. When segments of MCA and PCoA from the right side were challenged against 5-HT, a significantly increased response was found only at the first three doses. On the other hand, the NE content of pools made of MCA, PCoA, and anterior cerebral artery from each side was reduced to the same level on both sides after ganglion removal. These results indicate that the excised superior cervical ganglion innervated the MCA and PCoA from both sides of the circle of Willis.

Effect of ultrasonic waves on the heat resistance of Bacillus spores

The effect of ultrasonic treatment on the heat resistance of Bacillus spores differs widely both with the species and the strain tested. Ultrasonic waves do not affect the heat resistance of some strains, whereas they greatly reduce that of other strains of the same species. The heat-sensitizing effect of ultrasonic waves is more pronounced when short heating periods are used. Ultrasonic treatment does not seem to affect the "Z value".

Pigeon liver diacetyl reductase. Effects of pH on the kinetic parameters of the reaction

(1) The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters of the reaction catalyzed by pigeon liver diacetyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.5) was investigated in the pH range 5.1-8.6. (2) From the results obtained it is postulated that: (a), a group of pK around 7, active in the protonated form, participates in the interaction of the enzyme with NADH and NAD. (b), a second group with a pK of 8.4, active in the protonated form too, takes part in the binding of diacetyl to E-NADH. (c) A third group of pK about 4.7-5, active in the unprotonated form, is involved at least in the dissociation of the complex E-NAD and in the attachment of diacetyl to E-NADH.

Simple Method for Mass Production and Collection of Conidia from Hemispora stellata

A simple method is described for the mass production and collection of conidia from Hemispora stellata.

Effect of ultrasonic waves on the heat resistance of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus licheniformis spores

Heat resistance of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus licheniformis spores in quarter-strength Ringer solution decreases markedly after ultrasonic treatments which are unable to kill a significant proportion of the spore population. This effect does not seem to be caused by a loss of Ca(2+) or dipicolinic acid. The use of ultrasonics to eliminate vegetative cells or to break aggregates in Bacillus spore suspensions to be used subsequently in heat resistance experiments appears to be unadvisable.