Photoinduced electron transport across a lipid bilayer mediated by C70

Electron transport across a membrane is central to photosynthesis, to mitochondrial respiration and to the design of molecular systems for solar energy conversion. Relatively few synthetic molecules, however, have been shown to facilitate transport of electrons across a lipid bilayer. We report here that C70 can act as both a photosensitizer for electron transfer from a donor molecule and a mediator for electron transport across a lipid bilayer membrane. The steady-state photocurrent density obtained from the C70-bilayer system is about 40 times higher, at comparable light intensities, than that of the carotene-porphyrinquinone system, previously the most efficient artificial system. The C70-bilayer system has a quantum yield of about 0.04, while the stability (tens of minutes) and turnover number (electrons transported per C70 before decay) of 10(3) are one to three orders of magnitude greater than those of other systems. We anticipate that other higher fullerenes may also provide the basis for efficient transmembrane electron-transport systems.

Intestinal malrotation and gastric perforation in a newborn with tetralogy of Fallot: report of one case

Gastric perforation with gastrointestinal anomaly is rare in newborns. A case of Tetralogy of Fallot with both malrotation and gastric perforation is reported. Before operation, malrotation was diagnosed from the x-ray films. Laparotomy disclosed a linear perforation on the posterior wall of the gastric body. Mechanical obstruction might have played a role in this case.

Intracerebral arteriovenous fistula: report of one case

Intracranial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is rare. Of the 320 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) treated by Halbach over the past ten years, only five (1.6%) had a single arteriovenous connection. In the present study, a male infant developed focal seizure and intracranial hemorrhage without cardiac decompensation at the age of 42 days. When he was 3 years and 4 months old, status epileptics occurred, and AVF was discovered via CT scan and cerebral angiographic examination. The AVF was fed by a middle cerebral artery and drained into a huge cortical vein over the left parietooccipital area. Endovascular therapy and/or surgery were suggested, but the family refused. Though seizures occurred occasionally, the patient's consciousness level had become more clear, and he was discharged after three weeks' hospitalization. The patient was noted to be lethargic and only could roll over partially at the age of 3 year and 8 months, in the latest follow-up.

[Short-term ceftriaxone treatment of typhoid fever in children]

Ten children, diagnosed as having typhoid fever, were enrolled in this study between April and September, 1989. Ceftriaxone was administered intravenously, in two dosages adding to 50-100 mg/kg/day over as short a period as five days. The mean period of defervescence was 3.2 days. No adverse reactions to the drug occurred; all those fulfilling the prescribed course were cured. To date, no relapse has been reported nor has any patient become a chronic carrier. Shortterm use of Ceftriaxone had the advantages of rapid response, abscence of serious side effects, and low failure rate in treating children with typhoid fever.

Efficacy and safety of oral cefixime therapy in common infectious diseases in children

Twenty-nine children, including 20 boys and 9 girls, were enrolled in an open trial of oral cefixime therapy for common pediatric infectious diseases. Patients aged between 0.5 month and 12 years with a mean +/- standard deviation of 2.3 +/- 2.8 years. The diagnoses included 10 of acute otitis media, 2 of purulent rhinitis, 4 of acute enterocolitis, and 13 of urinary tract infection. Most children received 6-12 mg/kg/day of cefixime granules, orally twice daily for more than five days. All 10 cases (100%) of acute otitis media and 2 cases of purulent rhinitis were either cured, or improved by oral cefixime treatment. None of them was microbiologically evaluable. Four cases (100%) of acute enterocolitis, 3 due to Salmonella group B, one due to Shigella flexneri, were also successfully treated with bacteria eradication. However, the cure rate of 13 cases of urinary tract infection was only 85% (11/13). Seven Escherichia coli and 4 Proteus mirabilis infections were eradicated, whereas one each of Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections did not respond to treatment; these two cases had a complicated course. The overall cure and improvement rate was 93%. Although five patients had transient episodes of mild diarrhea, no significant adverse reaction was observed. In summary, oral cefixime given twice daily was effective and safe in the treatment of a variety of common infectious diseases in pediatric patients.

Jejunal atresia with "apple peel" deformity: report of one case

A case of jejunal atresia with "apple peel" deformity is presented. A 27-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2, suffered from premature labor pain and vaginal bleeding at 32 weeks of gestation. Prenatal ultrasound examination revealed presence of three areas of cystic dilatation in the fetal abdomen and marked polyhydramnios, indicating a high bowel obstruction. A female baby was delivered by Cesarean section with Apgar scores of 7 and 8 at one and five minutes, respectively. Physical examination showed abdominal distention. Nasogastric tube aspiration got more than 50 ml of blood-tinged fluid. Roentgenography demonstrated a high jejunal obstruction as well as a normally rotated colon. Laparotomy disclosed proximal jejunal atresia with typical "apple peel" appearance of the distal small bowel. An end-to-end anastomosis was performed smoothly after resection of both the proximal and distal small bowels. A reduction tapering antimesenteric jejunoplasty was also done. Partial parenteral nutrition had been administered for 10 days followed by enteric feeding. The postoperative course was uneventful. Her chromosomal analysis revealed a normal karyotype of 46,XX.

Epidermolysis bullosa: report of one case

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of inherited skin diseases manifested as bullae formation induced by minor trauma. According to the anatomical level of skin splitting, it could be classified mainly into three types: simplex, junctional and dystrophic EB. We have a female term newborn noted to have had skin defect and ulceration over lower legs concurrent with oral mucosal ulceration and blister formation since birth. New blisters occurred over friction and pressure areas shortly after birth. The histopathologic pictures revealed dystrophic type of EB. These lesions seemed responsive to phenytoin and topical skin care, healing gradually with minimal scarring and atrophy. However, it is important to follow these patients to help alleviate complications of extracutaneous involvement which may occur during later life.

Increased erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity in asthmatic children

Erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was measured in 19 newly-diagnosed and 20 hyposensitized asthmatic children, as well as 11 age-matched normal children. ADA activity was determined by adenosine catalyzed reactions. The results showed: 1) The mean value of ADA activity was 72.9 +/- 30.4 mumole/min/unit OD541 nm in newly-diagnosed asthmatics; 52.7 +/- 37.9 mumole/min/unit OD541 nm in hyposensitized patients and 39.5 +/- 26.7 mumole/min/unit OD541 nm in normal controls; 2) there was significant elevation in erythrocyte ADA activity in newly-diagnosed asthmatic patients as compared to normal controls (P less than 0.05), but there was no difference between newly-diagnosed and hyposensitized patients (P greater than 0.05), and between hyposensitized patients and normal controls (P greater than 0.2). The mechanism and possible clinical implication of increasing erythrocyte ADA activity in newly-diagnosed asthmatic patients are discussed.

Immunologic and virologic status of multitransfused thalassemic patients

Viral markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immunoglobulins and complements, T-cell subpopulation antibodies (OKT series) and mitogen responses have been investigated in 68 multitransfused thalassemic patients and in 46 age-matched children. Results showed (1) 56 patients (82.4%) had been exposed to HBV; 29 patients (42.6%) had been exposed to CMV and none were HIV infection. (2) Increased IgG, IgA, OKIal, and decreased C3, OKT3, OKT4, OKT4/OTK8 ratio showed in patients as compared to controls. (3) An apparent increase in lymphocyte proliferation was seen in patients' cultures with or without mitogen (PHA and ConA) stimulation. (4) No definite factors such as sex, age at first transfusion, number of transfusions or HBsAg carrier status correlated with the abnormal change of immunological tests. (5) Immunological investigation, done on 2 occasions six months apart, revealed no significant modifications except that 13 patients (19%) who were initially seronegative for CMV converted to seropositive. These investigations suggest that, although saline-washed RBC was used for the transfused patients, there was high prevalence of HBV and CMV infection. Further studies of lymphocyte function (i.e. lymphokines) are needed to understand the increased spontaneous proliferation in culture and PHA, ConA mitogen responses.

[Status epilepticus induced by prolonged immersion in hot herb bath: report of one case]

A 6-year-old girl with cerebral palsy developed conscious disturbance and generalized convulsion after one-hour hot herb drug bath. Physical examination on admission revealed rectal temperature 41 degrees C, hot skin, respiration 46/min, regular heart beat 98/min, BP 130/60 mmHg, Glascow coma scale 4 (E2M1V1), soft and flat abdomen, no hepatosplenomegaly, no skin rash, no focal neurological sign, increased generalized muscle ton. Laboratory data showed CBC: WBC 20400 cumm (Neutrophils 31%, Lymphocytes 69%), Hb 11.6gm%, ESR 11 mm/hr, arterial blood gas: PH 7.077, PO2 43mmHg, PCO2 57.1mmHg, HCO3- 16 mEq/L, BE-11.5mEq/L, serum sodium 143 mEq./L, potassium 5.2 mEq/L, chloride 101 mEq/L, free calcium ion 3.8mg%, GOT 63IU/L, GPT 263 IU/L, amylase 193 IU/L, alkaline phosphatase 388 IU/L, LDH 1245 IU/L, CPK 677 IU/L, total bilirubin 0.8 mg/dl, direct type 0.1 mg/dl, BUN 18 mg/dl, Glucose 35 mg/dl. Urinalysis revealed proteinuria( ) trace hematuria and pyuria, but no cast. Lumbar puncture is within normal limits. Bacteriology including blood and CSF are normal. Multiple organ failure was noted at that time. Intensive cooling methods were performed including central and peripheral cooling. We used luminal and valium to control the seizure. Condition didn't improve. Afterwards cardiopulmonary arrest developed. Patient expired 8 hours after admission despite of resuscitation. Heat stroke in infancy and childhood is different from that in adulthood. The predisposing factors are high ambient temperature, dehydration, very young baby, sweat gland dysfunction, or ectodermal dysplasia. Definition of heat stroke includes 1) rectal temperature above 41 degrees C, 2) behavioral change, 3) warm skin, wet or dry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cyclosporin in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia: report of one case

According to recent reports, cyclosporin (CsA) has been proven to be a cure for some patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). The use of CsA to treat SAA is based on both experimental and clinical evidences showing that this disease is sometimes caused by immune-mediated mechanisms. This report describes a fourteen-year-old boy who recovered from SAA after being treated with CsA, together with to a lesser extent prednisolone. In June of 1986, when he failed to improve after receiving six months of corticosteroid treatment, CsA was introduced. Following three weeks of CsA therapy no further blood transfusion was needed. Danazol was added on the 28th day of CsA therapy. On the 105th day the blood counts began to improve, and on the 375th day bone marrow aspirate revealed normal hematopoiesis. Along with these improvements, however, some side effects from the CsA treatment were observed. These included: hirsutism, hypertension and gingival hyperplasia, all of which eventually subsided on tapering and finally terminating CsA. For the time being, no side effects have been observed in the six-months period since CsA was stopped and the patient is leading a normal life.

[AIDS and the oral cavity]

The oral cavity is the site for a number of diseases associated with an infection of the human immunodeficiency virus. Often the oral lesions may appear before the establishment of an AIDS diagnosis; and occasionally, the diagnosis may depend solely on the oral manifestations. The most commonly reported oral infections are those caused by Candida albicans and the herpes simplex virus. Hairy leukoplakia, a newly described lesion, may also be of viral origin. Kaposi's sarcoma is the most frequently reported oral malignancy in patients with AIDS. Oral squamous cell carcinoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have also been reported.

Reduced doses of hepatitis B immune globulin in the prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B

From October 1982 to May 1983, newborn infants of 79 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive women were enrolled in a study of the efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) in the prophylaxis of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBIG 0.5 ml or 0.25 ml was given to the newborn within 15 minutes of birth and at 3 and 6 months. The mother-infant pairs were followed-up every 3 months for at least 9 months. Similar observations of untreated infants were used for comparison. Among infants of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive carrier mothers, the HBsAg carrier rates at 3 months were similar in the 0.5-ml and 0.25-ml HBIG dose groups. At 12 months the difference--17.7% of 17, 40% of 15--did not reach statistical significance, but the differences between these rates and that of the untreated control-85.7% of 35--did. Among infants of HBeAg-negative carrier mothers, HBV infection rates in both dose groups were similar to those of untreated infants. In the treated groups at 12 months about 45% of infants of HBeAg-positive mothers and 90% of infants of HBeAg-negative mothers were still negative for HBsAg and anti-HBs. Vaccination to induce active antibody is necessary to prevent postnatal infection and chronic carriage of HBV. To reduce the cost of combined passive and active hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis in children born to HBeAg-positive carrier mothers, 0.25 ml of HBIG could be used instead of the usually recommended 0.5 ml.

Deficient concanavalin-A-induced suppressor-cell activity in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis

Concanavalin-A (Con-A)-induced suppressor activity against the proliferative response of autologous lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was examined in the peripheral-blood lymphocytes from fourteen patients with bronchial asthma, ten patients with allergic rhinitis and eleven patients with atopic dermatitis and compared with eleven simultaneously studied healthy normals. Eight of fourteen patients (57%) with bronchial asthma, eight of ten patients (80%) with allergic rhinitis and five of eleven patients (45%) with atopic dermatitis demonstrated deficient Con-A-induced suppressor function. Abnormal suppressor-cell functions could play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic states.

Suppressor function in respiratory allergic diseases. Deficient concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity in patients with bronchial asthma or allergic rhinitis

Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced suppressor action against the proliferative response of autologous lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was examined in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 32 patients with bronchial asthma, 10 patients with allergic rhinitis and then compared with 12 simultaneously studied healthy normals. Twenty-two of 32 patients (68.8%) with bronchial asthma, 8 of 10 patients (80%) with allergic rhinitis demonstrated deficient Con-A-induced suppressor function. Abnormal suppressor cell functions could play an important role in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergic states.

Autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in man. VII. Autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis

The proliferative response of T lymphocyte cultured with autologous non-T lymphocyte is known as the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR). In AMLR, both helper and suppressor functions are generated. In this investigation we have examined T cell proliferative responses in AMLR in 12 patients with bronchial asthma, 10 patients with allergic rhinitis, and 10 patients with atopic dermatitis and compared that with simultaneously studied healthy controls. Our data show that the T cell proliferation in AMLR in patients with bronchial asthma is significantly higher than that of healthy normals. However, AMLR response in patients with allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis is comparable to controls. Mechanisms for increased AMLR in patients with bronchial asthma are discussed.

Immunological studies of newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia

In order to study the immunocompetence of severely jaundiced newborn infants and the possible role of infection in the pathogenesis of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, 74 newborn infants with varying degree of jaundice were studied with respect to several immunological parameters. The results showed that neonates with total serum bilirubin more than 20 mg/dl had statistically significantly higher numbers of white blood cells (WBCs), band form granulocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes with Fc and complement (C') receptors and elevated serum IgM than did those with lower serum bilirubin. It is therefore concluded: 1) There is no difference in immunocompetence between severely and mildly jaundiced newborn infants, 2) Infection may play some role(s) in the pathogenesis of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and 3) Determinations of total WBCs, band form granulocytes, phagocytes with Fc and C' receptors and serum IgM level are of help in the diagnosis of infection in the newborn period.