Surfactant abnormality and the sudden infant death syndrome--a primary or secondary phenomenon?

A prospective study of 46 infant deaths occurring between 3 and 100 weeks of age was performed and comprised a structured necropsy followed by collection of lung washings for surfactant phospholipid analysis and samples for microbiological examination. Of the 46 infants studied, 23 died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) alone; SIDS was the cause of death in a further 12 but there were additional clinical or pathological findings insufficient in themselves to account for the death ('SIDS-plus'). In 11 there were other causes of death ('non-SIDS'). The lung washings from infants dying from SIDS had significantly lower concentrations of phosphatidylcholine and a significantly lower palmitate content in the phosphatidylcholine. There was no association between surfactant phospholipid abnormality and the presence of recognised pathogens, histological evidence of pulmonary inflammation, aspiration of stomach contents, age at death, sex, and death-postmortem interval. There were, however, lower concentrations of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine palmitate content in infants colonised by organisms with reported phospholipase A2 activity.

Single maxillary central incisor in association with mid-line anomalies

A single maxillary central incisor may occur as an isolated dental finding. However, it has also been reported to occur in association with autosomal dominant holoprosencephaly, in association with growth retardation with or without growth hormone deficiency and occasionally in association with other mid-line developmental defects. Holoprosencephaly and pituitary dysfunction are two specific examples of mid-line defects and this report emphasises that other mid-line defects may be associated with a single maxillary central incisor. We recommend that patients with this dental anomaly should be referred for a detailed medical examination.

Relations of eye color to scores on Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency--Short Form

The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency--Short Form (8 subtests and 15 motor skill activities) was administered individually to 28 students. Multivariate analysis of variance showed no association with differences in eye color. There were two significant sex differences on univariate F tests; boys scored better at standing broad jump than girls, while girls scored better at standing on one leg and drawing a straight line than boys.

Effects of eye color and sex on accuracy in archery

126 subjects were 47 children in Grade 7, 49 students in Grade 8, and 30 adults, who shot arrows at bull's-eye targets from varying distances. Analysis of variance of accuracy scores indicated that there was no difference for eye color, but boys scored more points than did girls.

Effects of eye color on the accuracy of ball throwing of elementary school children

Light-eyed individuals generally perform better at self-paced activities while dark-eyed individuals perform better at reactive activities. In throwing a ball at a target there were no differences between light- and dark-eyed elementary school-age children. Boys hit the target more times than did girls, and older children in upper grades hit the target more often than did younger children in lower grades.

Effects of eye color on frisbee toss

Light-eyed individuals generally perform better at self-paced activities while dark-eyed individuals perform better at reactive activities. Using multiple regression it was found that dark-eyed students hit a target with a frisbee more times than did light-eyed students.

Pseudosickling of hemoglobin Setif

Hemoglobin Setif produces pseudosickling of red cells in vitro; the nature of the process and the conditions that "trigger" it are unknown. Studies of red cells, hemolysates, purified hemoglobin solutions, and artificial mixtures of Hb A and Setif suggest that pseudosickling is produced by intracellular crystallization of insoluble hemoglobin. Increased tonicity of the suspending medium accentuates the process, probably by causing a rise in intracellular hemoglobin concentration. If precipitates from A/Setif mixtures are analyzed, they always contain Hb A, suggesting an unusual mechanism for the process. Despite the fact that osmolality in the renal medulla is similar to that which produces pseudosickling in vitro, carriers do not have renal dysfunction of the type found in patients with sickle cell disease.

A second Australian family with hemoglobin North Shore (beta 134 Val----Glu)

A second Australian family is reported with Hemoglobin North Shore (beta 134 Val----Glu), an unstable hemoglobin, causing no clinical symptoms. All affected family members showed only mild reticulocytosis and microcytosis on the blood film, despite the strongly positive isopropanol test for Hb (hemoglobin) stability and numerous red cell inclusions. Hb North Shore constituted 31-38% of the total hemoglobin and migrated on the anodal side of Hb A at pH 8.9. The association of a mildly raised Hb A2 level and thalassemic phenotype with Hb North Shore previously reported, is confirmed in this study.

Contrasting monoamine oxidase activity and tyramine induced catecholamine release in PC12 and chromaffin cells

PC12 (phaeochromocytoma derived) cells possess the catecholamine synthesizing enzymes as well as the ability to store and release the catecholamines in response to K+. However, their monoamine oxidase activity and catecholamine release in response to tyramine has not been examined previously. PC12 cells have monoamine oxidase activity which oxidizes type A (noradrenaline and serotonin) and type A-B (dopamine, tyramine and kynuramine) substrates, and is selectively inhibited by clorgyline (IC50 approximately 10(-6) M). In contrast, PC12 cell monoamine oxidase hardly oxidizes phenylethylamine a type B substrate, and is relatively insensitive to inhibition by the selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor, 1-deprenyl (IC50 approximately 10(-6) M). By the above criteria it is apparent that the monoamine oxidase in PC12 is solely type A. The kinetics of the oxidase are similar to those of monoamine oxidase type A reported in other tissues including the adrenergic neuron, having apparent Km values of 400, 280, 170 and 227 microM for noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and tyramine. The apparent Km value for phenylethylamine is 235 microM. On the other hand, isolated chromaffin cells have the B form of monoamine oxidase with high affinity (Km approximately 25 microM) for phenylethylamine and low affinities for noradrenaline (Km approximately 1100 microM) and adrenaline (Km approximately 1700 microM). This enzyme form is selectively inactivated by the monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor, 1-deprenyl. In similar fashion to peripheral adrenergic neurons, PC12 cells share the capacity to express a tyramine releasable pool of catecholamines, a property entirely lacking in mature cultured chromaffin cells, even though the latter cells are capable of taking up tyramine by a cocaine sensitive process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tissue expansion: its role in traumatic below-knee amputations

A case of nonhealing ulcer overlying a traumatic below-knee amputation treated with tissue expansion, excision, and primary closure is presented. Histologic evidence of tissue injury following tissue expansion is presented, and a recommendation for its cautious use in patients with impaired wound healing is suggested.

Pseudomonas cepacia infection in cystic fibrosis: an emerging problem

The prevalence of Pseudomonas cepacia infection increased from 10% in 1971 to 18% by 1981 in a population of approximately 500 patients with cystic fibrosis. Carriage of P. aeruginosa has remained unchanged at 70% to 80% over the same period. Patients infected with P. cepacia have greater impairment of pulmonary function than those with P. aeruginosa. A syndrome characterized by high fever, severe progressive respiratory failure, leukocytosis, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate has occurred in eight patients over the past 3 years, with a 62% fatality rate. Because P. cepacia strains are uniformly resistant to ticarcillin, piperacillin, and aminoglycosides, and because ceftazidime is ineffective despite in vitro activity, treatment of these infections is very difficult. Prevention of acquisition and effective treatment of P. cepacia in patients with cystic fibrosis are now major clinical problems in our clinic.