D-002 is a mixture of higher aliphatic alcohols, primarily isolated and purified from beeswax, that has moderate anti-inflammatory and effective anti-ulcer activity. In the present study the developmental toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits was evaluated. Doses of 100, 320 and 1000 mg kg(-1) were administered once daily by gavage to pregnant females on gestation days 6-15 (rats) or 6-18 (rabbits). Reproductive indices were determined and foetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal malformations. There was no indication of embryotoxicity, fetotoxicity or teratogenicity in any of the treated groups. It is concluded that D-002 is devoid of teratogenic or embryotoxic effects in these strains.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of dengue virus from mosquito cell cultures inoculated with human serum in the presence of actinomycin D.

We report the use of cultures of mosquito cells (TRA-284) to detect dengue virus in serum from cases of dengue fever in the state of Puebla, México. Using the conventional procedure 56 of 171 samples (32.7%) were positive. The negative sera (67.3%) were passaged 'blind' in mosquito cell cultures but no virus was detected. However, when these sera were incubated in the presence of actinomycin D (an inhibitor of deoxyribonucleic acid transcription) 20 of the 115 samples (17.4%) became positive. This procedure increased the virus detection rate from 32.7% to 44.4%. Serotypes 1 and 4 were identified for the first time in the state of Puebla, where the transmission of dengue virus is increasing. The addition of actinomycin D to mosquito cell cultures may improve the detection of dengue virus and could be a useful tool for virological surveillance in endemic countries.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Breast US in children and adolescents.

Ultrasonography (US) is of value in the evaluation and characterization of breast masses in children. Most masses represent either normal breast tissue, cysts, or fibroadenomas. Premature thelarche may be unilateral, and normal breast tissue is found at US. Cysts are commonly retroareolar; when they become infected, they appear sonographically as a complex mass. Fibroadenoma is the most frequent breast tumor in adolescent girls, and it is usually solitary, homogeneous, and hypoechoic. Malignant breast lesions are very rare in children; most are due to metastatic disease secondary to rhabdomyosarcoma, leukemia, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma, and their US appearance is nonspecific. Gynecomastia in boys can be mimicked by general obesity and pectoral hypertrophy; US is helpful in the diagnosis, especially when gynecomastia is asymmetric. Most breast lesions in children and adolescents are benign, and surgery should be avoided to prevent later deformity. US is the ideal imaging modality to evaluate breast lesions and may be used to guide a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Color Doppler US evaluation is helpful; cysts are avascular, fibroadenomas may be avascular or hypovascular, and abscesses show peripheral increased flow. Bloody nipple discharge is more common in prepubertal patients, may occur in infants, and may be secondary to mammary ductal ectasia. Discharge commonly resolves spontaneously, and findings at US are frequently normal.

Adolescent↗

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GH-IGF axis during catch up growth in small for gestational age (SGA) infants.

The hormonal profile in 47 small for gestational age (SGA) term newborns during their first year of life was studied. The newborns had a mean birth weight of 2290 +/- 230 g and a length of 45.5 +/- 2.0 cm, and they were followed up every month. Serum IGF-I, IGF-II, and urinary growth hormone (u-GH) concentrations were measured at 3 days of age and every 3 months during one year. Serum IGFBP-3 levels were measured at 3 and 6 months of age. Catch up growth (CUG) was defined as an increase in length z score greater than 1 SD between birth and 6 months of age. According to this definition, 27 infants (57.4%) experienced CUG. We compared the hormonal profile of the infants who demonstrated evidence of CUG [CUG(+)] with those who did not [CUG(-)]. Serum IGF-II levels were significantly higher in CUG(+) infants compared to CUG(-) infants at 3 months of age. We did not find any differences in serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and urinary GH between CUG(+) and CUG(-) infants at any time during the study.

Birth Weight↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Y chromosome sequences in Turner's syndrome: association with virilization and gonadoblastoma.

UNLABELLED: The presence of Y chromosome fragments in patients with Turner's syndrome is known to increase the risk of gonadoblastoma and virilization. Y chromosome material is detected in up to 6% of patients with Turner's syndrome by karyotype. By DNA analysis, Y chromosome sequences have been reported in 0-60% of patients. The putative gonadoblastoma gene has been mapped to the pericentromeric region of the Y chromosome increasing the interest in studying these sequences. AIMS: 1. To determine the frequency of occult Y chromosome sequences in patients with Turner's syndrome. 2. To analyze the clinical implications of Y sequences detected by karyotype and occult Y sequences. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of 58 patients with Turner's syndrome (30 45,X; two with structural anomalies; 26 mosaic [two of whom were 45,X/46,XY]). SRY, TSPY and DYZ3 sequences were amplified by PCR using genomic DNA from peripheral blood. RESULTS: All three Y chromosome sequences were found in one out of 56 patients whose karyotype was not suggestive of having Y chromosome material and in one patient with 45,X/46,Xr(X) karyotype. The patients with the ring chromosome and 45,X/46,XY karyotype underwent surgery and were found to have a gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma. The four patients with Y chromosome material had non-virilized female genitalia. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis by PCR was more sensitive in detecting Y chromosome sequences than conventional karyotype. The presence of Y material was not associated with virilization. We confirmed the association of Y fragments and gonadoblastoma at an early age.

Adolescent↗

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[Interaction of the mechanisms of beta 2-microglobulin convection, diffusion, and adsorption in line hemodiafiltration].

The in vivo contribution of diffusion, convection ad adsorption to beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) elimination by hemodiafiltration (HDF) was investigated. 11 patients (8M/3W), with a mean age of 59 +/- 10 years and weighing 62.7 +/- 8.7 kg were studied. A 1.89 m2 polysulphone membrane was used in 180 min postdilution HDF. Samples at blood inlet (bi), blood autlet (bo), dialysate outlet (do) and ultrafiltrate (uf) were taken to determine beta 2-m concentrations at 30 and 150 min. Rates of flow (Q, ml(min) prescribed were: infusion, Qinf = 103.6 +/- 12.3, Quf = 14.6 +/- 4.0 y Qb = 465 +/- 5.0. Effective Qbi was automatically measured by the machine and Qdo = 800 + Quf. The removed beta 2-m mass (M, mg/min) was obtained by multiplying rates of flow (Q, L/min) by beta 2-m concentrations (mg/L) at each sampling point. From mass balance, we calculated the mass of beta 2-m removed (mg/min) by adsorption 0.23 +/- 0.2, by convection 0.7 +/- 0.3 and by diffusion 1.0 +/- 0.4, at 30 min. At 150 min, the beta 2-m mass removed was -0.06 +/- 0.1 by adsorption 0.4 +/- 0.1 by convection and 0.3 +/- 0.1 by diffusion. In HDF, these beta 2-m eliminating mechanisms play a variable role throughout the session. The more significant conclusion is that diffusion of beta 2-m with a synthetic "open" membrane is an important method of removing beta 2-m, comparable to convection over the whole procedure. That result explain the relative efficacy of beta 2-m clearance by HDF convection, and also explain why isolated diffusion is an efficient mechanism for beta 2-m removal by high-flux hemodialysis.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in the anion gap in patients undergoing hemodiafiltration].

The serum anion gap (AG) is a calculated value defined as the difference between the sum of sodium and potassium and the sum of chloride and bicarbonate concentrations. Thus, the anion gap is equal to the unmeasured cations minus the unmeasured anions (UA). To evaluate the AG changes during HDF-on line, we studied 20 patients treated with this technique. Blood pH, HCO3, NA, K, Cl, albumin, phosphorus, urea, creatinine and lactate were determined pre and post-HDF. The AG, negative charger of serum albumin (CAA) and phosphate (CAP) were computed by equations. AG decreased during HDF from 23.1 +/- 3.4 mEq/l to 17.3 +/- 3.6 mEq/l (p < 0.001). The CAA rose from 10.9 +/- 0.8 to 12.3 +/- 1.7 mEq/l (p < 0.001). The CAP and lactate fell significantly during HDF (p < 0.001 and 0.05 respectively). Other unmeasured anions (UA) decreased from 7.9 +/- 3.0 to 2.4 +/- 2.7 mEq/l (p < 0.001). The CAA contributed 47.7 +/- 6.5% and 73.01 +/- 12.7% to the pre and post-HDF serum anion gap respectively. The CAP accounted for 12.4 +/- 3.4% and 8.6 +/- 1.8%, lactate 6.4 +/- 3.9% and 6.0 +/- 3.0% and UA for 33.2 +/- 7.7% and 12.2 +/- 13.6% of the anion gap pre and post-HD respectively. AG and UA correlated significantly with blood urea pre-HDF and urea generation. The increase in serum albumin and pH can mask an decreased concentration of unmeasured anions in patients treated with HDF on-line. An adjusted anion gap without effect of CAA and CAP can be obtained. With the help of this adjustments the changes in some undetermined anions organic and inorganic (sulphate and others in renal failure) can be calculated.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

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[Approximation to cost analysis of various types of hemodialysis using relative value units].

Hemodialysis sessions performed in Hospital Units have a different degree of complexity depending on the kind of patients who is receiving this treatment. This paper's aim is to apply certain weighting factors, which measure the complexity of each type of session performed, and so allow a more realistic comparison with hemodialysis sessions performed in dialysis Units. The various costs of the Castellón General Hospital Dialysis Unit were calculated. Five types of Hospital-performed sessions were defined, to which were applied concrete weighting factors called Relative Value Units (RVU). These took account of health professionals' time, disposable material and drug expenses. The cost of single hemodialysis session, before the RVU calculation was added, was 28,549 pesetas (171.58 Eu.). Thirty-two per cent of the cost was from disposable material, 29.38% for cost of health professionals time, 18.54% for structural costs, 13.4% for drug expenses, and 5.73% for the nephrologists' time. When RVU were applied, the Type I session cost (chronic renal failure patients on regular hemodialysis), was 28,882 pesetas (149.54 Eu.). As the complexity of the procedure increased, up to the Type V session (acute renal failure patients in intensive Care Units), the costs also rose to 68,448 pesetas (411.38 Eu.). We conclude that weighing the different types of hemodialysis sessions by means of RVU, allows a better measurement of the costs and achieves a more accurate comparison with others hemodialysis units.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Isolation and characterization of a strain of E. coli K12 with a mutation affecting the transcription].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Validation of a prognostic index in the critically ill newborn.

OBJECTIVE: Elaborate and assess the degree of validity of a prognostic model for evaluating patients admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). DESIGN: Cases and controls nested in a cohort. SETTING: NICU of two tertiary hospitals and another second level hospital. PATIENTS: The study was carried out in two phases. During the first phase (elaboration of a model), 336 newborns were studied; 112 belonged to the case group (dead patients) and 224 to the control group (live patients discharged). For the second phase (model validation), 300 patients were included that did not participate in the first phase, 100 cases and 200 controls. MEASUREMENTS: For each patient admitted to the study, clinical, paraclinical, perinatal and comorbidity factors were determined within the first 12 hours. Variables of statistical significance in the bivariate analysis were included in a logistic regression model with the objective of identifying a prognostic model. RESULTS: The variables that constituted the prognostic index were gestational age x birth weight, the paO2/FiO2 ratio x O2 saturation, arrest cardiac, major congenital malformations, septicemia and base excess. The model showed to have a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 91% during the elaboration cohort. In the validation cohort, sensitivity was 68% and specificity was 92%, a positive predictive value of 80%, negative predictive value of 85% and a correct classification rate was 84%. CONCLUSIONS: The Neonatal Mortality Prognostic Index (NMPI) developed in this study showed to be useful for the evaluation of hospital mortality for severely ill newborns admitted to NICU.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Is the correlation between adequate dialysis in peritoneal dialysis and nutritional parameters mathematical or biological? Influence of residual renal function and comorbidity].

The relationship between urea Kt/V and nPCR (nPNA) is partly due to a mathematical coupling and greatly depends on the residual renal function (RRF). On the other hand, albumin could be just a comorbidity marker. Our objective in this study was to verify whether dialysis dose in peritoneal dialysis (PD) is biologically related to the nutritional state measured by the mean values of several parameters not mathematically related while analyzing the influence of RRF and comorbidity (C). 101 stable PD patients, 60M and 41F with a mean age of 59.3 +/- 14.3 years, were studied and followed up every six months for a mean time of 35.8 +/- 22.3 months (8-112). The variables studied were initial comorbidity, plasma albumin, normalized protein nitrogen appearance (nPNA), lean body weight % (LBW%) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) derived from creatinine, and RRF. In every study (n = 471) the 24 hours dialysate and urine volumes were collected and the total (T), dialytic (P) and renal (R) urea KT/V and normalized creatinine clearance (CCR) were determined and compared with the nutritional parameters. When starting PD 48 patients (47.5%) had some C and 34 (33.7%) were already anuric. The correlations of nPNA with T-KT/V and T-CCR (n = 101) were r = 0.67 and 0.50 (p < 0.0005) while the correlations of LBW% with T-KT/V and T-CCR were r = 0.36 and 0.40 (p < 0.0005) respectively. The correlations of albumin with T, P and R KT/V and CCR did not reach significance. The nutritional state was better in patients with a higher RRF and albumin showed significant differences when related to morbidity. KT/V and CCR correlations with nutritional variables not mathematically related verify the hypothesis that dialysis dose is biologically associated with the nutritional state.

Adult↗