Intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation corrects hepatic encephalopathy in portacaval-shunted rats

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation on hepatic encephalopathy in an experimental model of chronic liver failure induced by end-to-side portacaval shunt in the rat. Inbred male Wistar Furth rats were divided into three groups: rats subjected to portacaval shunt (n = 10), rats subjected to portacaval shunt and intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation of 10(7) hepatocytes isolated from livers of syngeneic rats (n = 10) and sham-operated rats (n = 10). Behavior tests were performed in a blind fashion at 3 wk, at 2 mo and at 3 mo after surgery. Spontaneous activity and nose-poke exploration by individual rats were studied in automated open field boxes equipped with infrared cells. Each cell beam interruption was automatically recorded on a microcomputer and transformed into a score index (counts/hour). Plasma levels of amino acids, ammonia and total biliary acids were measured. Portacaval shunt rats showed reduced spontaneous activity and nose-poke exploration scores. Intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation significantly increased spontaneous activity after 2 mo and improved nose-poke exploration after 3 wk. At 3 mo, spontaneous activity and nose-poke exploration in portacaval shunt/intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation rats were not significantly different from those of sham rats. Increases in plasma ammonia levels after portacaval shunt were not corrected. Amino acid imbalance and bile acid concentration in plasma were partially corrected by intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation. These data show that intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation can correct the neurological symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy in an experimental model of chronic liver failure and suggest that intrasplenic hepatocellular transplantation might be of therapeutic interest in chronic liver failure.

In vitro antibacterial effect of chlorhexidine added to glass-ionomer cements

The aims of the present study were to investigate the antibacterial properties of glass-ionomer cements containing different concentrations of chlorhexidine and the possible release of chlorhexidine from the compound. Chlorhexidine gluconate or diacetate was mixed with glass-ionomer cements and tested in vitro against strains of Lactobacillus casei and mutans streptococci. A spectrophotometric test was used to monitor the release of chlorhexidine from the mixture. In a broth culture test, the higher the concentrations of chlorhexidine in the mixture, the longer the time of antibacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans and the greater the tendency of the material to deteriorate. Agar diffusion tests revealed bacterial inhibition in a dose-response manner. The tested bacterial strains were similarly inhibited and the antibacterial properties decreased with time. A minor portion of added chlorhexidine was released from the cement. The deterioration of the cements indicates that the material could be useful as a varnish-like chlorhexidine carrier.

Growth and body proportions in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Total height, sitting height, and subischial leg length were measured in 27 patients (19 girls and eight boys aged 4.3-21.1 years) with congenital adrenal hyperplasia to determine the influence of chronic hyperandrogenaemia on body proportions. Proportions were normal in 24 patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia who had received steroid treatment since birth, but one of three patients with non-classical (late onset) congenital adrenal hyperplasia had a disproportionately large trunk. Eleven patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia had completed growth, of whom seven had height standard deviation (SD) scores for chronological age less than zero, and one had extremely short stature (SD score -3.25). In 13 patients who were still growing, nine had height SD scores for chronological age of less than zero despite having mean (SD) advances in bone age over chronological age of 1.64 (1.68) years. Height SD scores for bone age were less than 0 in all 13 patients, indicating a loss of height despite advanced skeletal maturation. Doses of glucocorticoid that permit mild chronic or intermittent hyperandrogenaemia also seem to be associated with mild growth retardation. An adult height below average may be an inevitable consequence for many patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia receiving conventional glucocorticoid treatment.

[Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis]

Neurofibromatosis is a multisystemic disease in which the multiple possible clinical manifestations may have important diagnostic and prognostic implications; if arterial hypertension coexists, many pathogenic mechanisms justify that the possible secondary etiology must be considered. In this report we review the pathogenic and clinical mechanisms and we point to the diagnostic strategy to reveal anomalies and diseases that, although present, may be occult.

[Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis and malignant pheochromocytoma: presentation of 3 cases]

Neurofibromatosis may involve every organ. Manifestations vary greatly and different kind of neoplasia may be associated with excessive frequency; it's the case of pheochromocytoma that, as a benign tumor, coexists in 10%. Description of coexistency as a malignant tumor is a rarity; therefore, we think it's interesting to publish our experience. Nevertheless the association of Von Recklinghausen's disease with hypertension is not always dependent of that kind of association.

Body proportions in Turner's syndrome

Body proportion was studied in Turner's syndrome by measurement of standing an sitting heights in relation to chronological and bone age. The mean standard deviation score for standing height was -3.8. Disproportionate growth of the legs was not a major determinant of short stature, either before or after oestrogen replacement.

The lymphatic vessels of the lung: morphological study

The authors studied the anatomical structures of the pulmonary lymphatic vessels in the dog and in man using injection techniques and macro- and microangiographic and histological methods. The results show that injection in the basal lobes is easier than in the apical lobes. The dog, an animal with a thin pleura, has a very dense superficial lymphatic network, like man. The superficial and the deep lymphatic vessels are connected through the pleural septa.

Spectinomycin in gonorrhoea

Of 104 male and nine female patients with uncomplicated acute gonorrhoea who were treated with spectinomycin (males 2 g., females 4 g.), two patients (one male and one female) were considered to be treatment failures. No conclusions can be drawn from the small numbers of female patients investigated. Of the 104 male patients, 93 were followed for 2 weeks or more, giving a failure rate of 1-1 per cent. The drug was well tolerated. Sensitivity tests were carried out on 44 strains of N. gonorrhoeae; 42 strains were sensitive to 2-5 mug./ml. spectinomycin and all strains were sensitive to 5 mug./ml.