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PubMed2006

Variations of the position of the cerebellar tonsil in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with severe curves: a MRI study.

This study is an investigation into the position of the cerebellar tonsils in AIS with severe curves and any relationship it has with age, sex, curve severity and curve pattern. Sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hindbrain was performed on both of 205 AIS patients with a Cobb angle greater than 40 degrees and 86 healthy controls. The position of the cerebellar tonsil relative to the line connecting the basion and opisthion (BO line) was measured. In AIS and controls, the mean position of the cerebellar tonsil was 0.9 and 2.9 mm above the BO line, respectively. The incidence of tonsillar ectopia in AIS was found to be significantly higher than controls (34.5% versus 5.8%, p<0.001). No significant correlations were found between the position of the cerebellar tonsil with age or sex in AIS and controls. It was shown the position of the cerebellar tonsil was not significantly different among AIS patients with deferent curve severity. However, a significant lower incidence of tonsillar ectopia (p=0.049) was found in patients with lumbar curves when compared to those with thoracic or thoracolumbar curves. In conclusion, there was a relatively lower position of the cerebellar tonsil together with a significant higher incidence of tonsil ectopia in AIS patients. There was a trend that tonsillar ectopia was more often in thoracic or thoraco-lumbar curves, suggesting that a lower position of the cerebellar tonsil may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of AIS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Epitope mapping of apolipoprotein A-I using endoproteinase cleavage and monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The epitopes for two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed towards human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), designated AI-1 and AI-3, have been more precisely defined. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that AI-1 and AI-3 recognize antigenic determinants located within cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragments 1 (CF1) and 3 (CF3), respectively. Using peptides generated from endoproteinase cleavage of CF1 and CF3, we now report that both MAbs are specific for two previously unreported epitopes along the apoA-I molecule. The ability of whole endoproteinase digest mixtures to bind the MAbs, as determined by means of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indicated regions of CF1 and CF3 that were likely to form the epitopes. Purified peptides derived from the digests were then used to localize the epitopes recognized by MAbs AI-1 and AI-3 to within residues 28-47 and 140-147 of apoA-I, respectively. We have previously reported that the epitopes for both MAbs are exposed on HDL2, HDL3, and free apoA-I. Thus, the precise mapping of the binding sites recognized by AI-1 and AI-3 has enabled the identification of regions along apoA-I that are exposed on the surface of lipoprotein particles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

[Variation of the position of the conus medullaris in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with a Cobb angle greater than 40 degrees: Analysis of MRI].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the position of the conus medullaris in adolescent idioppathic scoliosis (AIS) with a greater curve and the relationship of that with age, sex, curve severity and curve pattern. METHODS: In this study, 202 AIS patients with a Cobb angle greater than 40 degrees on coronal plane were included. And 52 age-matched healthy adolescents were recruited to serve as controls. Both of them displayed neurologically normal upon physical examinations. The T1-weighted, sagittal, spino-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lumbar spine was performed on both of AIS patients and healthy controls. According to a standard method described previously, the position of the conus medullaris relative to lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral disc space was measured. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the distributions of the positions of the conus medullaris in AIS patients and healthy controls. In both groups, the mean position of the conus medullaris located at the same level, the lower 1/3 of L(1) (range: the middle 1/3 of T(12) to L(2 - 3) disc space). No significant correlations were found between the position of the conus medullaris and age or sex in AIS and control subjects. It was shown that the positions of the conus medullaris were not significantly different among AIS patients with different curve severity and curve patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of the conus location in AIS patients is shown to be ranged from the middle 1/3 of T(12) to L(2 - 3) disc space, with no significant difference when compared to controls. No significant associations are found between the conus position with curve severity and curve patterns, indicating the conus location might be of no significant relevance of research on AIS pathogenesis and curve progression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

[Functional relationships between the cerebrum and cerebellum or the cerebral cortex and deep gray matter in normal subjects and patients with Alzheimer's type dementia].

Since the various parts of the central nervous system are functionally interconnected, functional relationships between one region and another would be expected to be present. We investigated whether functional relationships between the cerebrum and cerebellum or between the cerebral cortex and deep gray matter exist in normal subjects and patients with Alzheimer's type dementia (AD), using the indicator of asymmetry in cerebral blood flow. Eighteen normal subjects (average age: 72.6 +/- 11.4 years) and 21 patients with AD (average age: 75.5 +/- 8.1 years) were studied in the resting state using SPECT with 123I-IMP. The asymmetry index (AI) of blood flow for matched left-right regions of interest was calculated as follows: AI = (R-L)/(R + L)/200(%) (R: right side, L: left side). For both the normal and AD groups, we found a negative correlation between AI in the cerebrum and AI in the cerebellum. The AIs of widespread cortical subregions, except the occipital cortex, were significantly correlated with AI in the cerebellum in the AD group. On the other hand, the only significant correlation found in normal subjects was between the AIs of the frontal cortex and cerebellum. A positive correlation between the AIs in the cerebral cortex and deep gray matter was observed in both the normal and AD groups. Though only the upper frontal and parietal cortices showed significant correlations with the deep gray matter in normal subjects, more extensive cortical subregions showed significant correlations in AD patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The patient with acute cerebrovascular disorders: assessment of associated diseases].

We performed a prospective study in 106 patients with acute stroke. The main purpose was to evaluate the associated diseases and to determine their prevalence and incidence in two different types of cerebrovascular disease: the intracerebral hemorrhage (HI) and ischaemic events (AI). The studied population included 54 men and 52 women with a mean age of 66.8 +/- 10.3 years. A clinical examination was performed in all patients by different specialists and all were submitted to diverse complementary tests, including a computed tomography scan of the brain (TAC) and an echocardiogram (ECO). We found 24 (23%) HI and 82 (77%) AI. In the past history, previous stroke were more prevalent in AI (p less than 0.01). Heart disease was present in 87 (82%) patients but, among them, only atrial fibrillation which was found in 19 (18%) patients, was significantly more frequent in AI (p less than 0.02). Hypertension (HTA) existed in 79 (75%) patients, respiratory complications and periferic vascular disease in 9 (8%), diabetes in 44 (42%) and dyslipidemia in 31 (29%) patients. No significant difference was found between the two groups of stroke regarding these diseases; however, there was a tendency for HTA and diabetes to be more prevalent in HI and for periferic vascular disease in AI. In the blood tests, high haematocrit was found in 35 (33%) patients, anemia in 21 (20%), hypercholesterolemia in 17 (16%), hypertrigliceridemia in 18 (17%) and uremia or creatinemia or ionic alteration in 32 (30%) patients, without any difference in their prevalence and incidence in the two groups of stroke. In conclusion, in this prospective study of patients with an acute stroke, there was 23% of HI and 77% of AI, a high prevalence of previous stroke, heart disease and HTA, but only the previous stroke and, within heart disease, the atrial fibrillation were significantly more frequent in the AI group. Also, periferic vascular disease had a tendency to be more frequent in AI, as well as diabetes and HTA had in HI.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1990

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity in aged, cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired rats.

There is a tendency for increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity with age in the rat, and the resulting elevations in circulating glucocorticoid levels have been implicated in the occurrence of hippocampal pathology and memory deficits. In the experiments reported here, we examined whether HPA dysfunction is selectively associated with cognitive impairments in a population of aged rats. Fifty-eight 23-27-month-old male Long-Evans rats were screened for spatial memory impairments using the Morris swim maze, and 2 groups of aged animals were selected; aged, cognitively impaired (AI) animals whose performance was significantly different (greater than 2 SD) from that of 6-month-old controls and aged, cognitively unimpaired (AU) animals whose performance was comparable to that of the young controls (a difference of less than 0.5 SD). Twenty-eight percent of the animals tested were designated as AI and 20% as AU. Histological analysis of a subset of these animals showed that, while both AU and AI animals showed neuron loss in the pyramidal cell fields of the hippocampus, the loss was significantly greater in the AI animals. The AI animals showed clear evidence of increased HPA activity. Thus, basal ACTH and corticosterone levels were significantly higher in the AI animals compared with both AU animals and young controls, especially during the dark phase of the cycle. The AI, AU, and young animals exhibited comparable corticosterone levels during a 20-min immobilization stress; however, following the termination of the stressor, corticosterone levels in AI animals were significantly elevated compared with both AU animals and controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Alterations of cardiac adrenoceptors and calcium channels subsequent to production of aortic insufficiency in rats.

Aortic insufficiency (AI) was produced in rats by puncturing one of the aortic valves with a plastic rod inserted from the right carotid artery, and the subsequent changes in alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors and Ca2+ channels were investigated by means of radioligand binding assays. The positive inotropic effects of methoxamine (Met), isoproterenol (Iso) and Ca2+ were also examined in isolated left papillary muscles. The ratio of the whole heart weight to body weight in AI rats increased significantly as compared with sham-operated rats from 1 till 8 weeks after operation, showing that a cardiac hypertrophy had occurred due to the volume overload. Maximum binding sites (Bmax) for 3H-prazosin in cardiac ventricular muscles of AI rats significantly increased at 4 weeks and returned to the control level at 8 weeks when the AI was still patent. Bmax for 3H-dihydroalprenolol (3H-DHA) of AI rats significantly increased at 2 and 4 weeks and returned to the control level at 8 weeks. Bmax for 3H-nitrendipine binding of AI rats significantly decreased at 2 weeks and returned to the control level at 4 weeks. Affinities for these bindings, as expressed by values of dissociation constants, showed no significant changes. The sensitivities of papillary muscles to Met and Iso were significantly increased in AI rats at 4 weeks. Plasma immunoreactive alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-ANP) concentration of AI rats tended to increase from 1 till 3 weeks and returned to the control level at 4 weeks but these changes were not significant. We conclude that the synthesis of new adrenoceptors keeps pace with the hypertrophic process and may even overshoot during a short period.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

A comparison of the effects of plasma exchange and immunoadsorption on anti-insulin antibody synthesis in rabbits.

Plasma exchange (PE) and ex vivo immunoadsorption (IA) may be applicable to the removal of anti-insulin antibodies (AI-Ab) from diabetic patients. However, the removal of antibodies may prompt an increase in their rate of synthesis and an overshoot of antibody levels which may be deleterious to the patient. The effects of both PE and IA on AI-Ab synthesis were studied in a rabbit model. Rabbits were immunized with insulin and the resulting AI-Abs removed by both plasma exchange and specific immunoadsorption. Following AI-Ab removal by PE no increase in AI-Ab synthesis or antibody overshoot occurred. However a large increase in AI-Ab synthesis and overshoot occurred following specific AI-Ab removal by immunoadsorption. Despite similar reductions in AI-Ab levels by PE and IA, no increase in antibody synthesis occurred due solely to antibody removal. It is likely that antigen released from the immunoadsorbent stimulated the increase in antibody synthesis following immunoadsorption. These findings are relevant to the clinical application of both PE and IA.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

[The effect of concomitant aortic valve insufficiency on the values of Doppler sonographic gradient determination in patients with aortic stenosis].

We examined the influence of concomitant significant aortic incompetence (AI) on Doppler-gradient measurements in valvular aortic stenosis (AS) by comparing catheter and Doppler gradients of 51 patients with isolated AS and of 24 patients with additional AI. In patients with additional AI there was a significantly greater overestimation of the peak-to-peak gradient by the maximal instantaneous Doppler gradient (AS + AI: overestimation 31.0 +/- 17.6 mm Hg, AS: overestimation 10.5 +/- 20.2 mm Hg; p less than 0.01) and also by the maximal instantaneous catheter gradient (AS + AI: overestimation 32.8 +/- 11.8 mm Hg, AS: overestimation 20.4 +/- 14.0 mm Hg; p less than 0.01). Comparison of the respective catheter-derived and Doppler-sonographically measured instantaneous and mean gradients showed no differences between the two patient subgroups. Higher instantaneous gradients in patients with additional AI are mainly explained by the lower end-diastolic aortic pressure. However, Doppler-sonographic overestimation of the severity of stenosis in patients with combined AS + AI, due to the sole measurement of the instantaneous gradient in clinical practice, should be of limited importance because in these patients significant AI already sufficiently indicates aortic valve replacement.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Comparative studies on tree pollen allergens. XIII. Partial characterization of the alder (Alnus incana) pollen extract by two-dimensional IEF/SDS-PAG electrophoresis combined with electrophoretic transfer and immunoautoradiography.

Horizontal isoelectric focusing (IEF) and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D SDS-PAGE) combined with electrophoretic transfer (ET) and immunoautoradiography (IAR) were used to characterize the crude alder (Alnus incana) pollen extract (AI crude) and fraction AI 34. IEF resolved AI crude and AI 34 into 34 and 39 distinct protein bands, respectively, when stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. The band patterns were similar and the majority of bands were located in the pH region 4.0-7.0. After ET and IAR, the distribution of antigenic reactivities was similar to that of the protein stain. Allergenic reactivity was detected in the pH region 4.6-5.2 only, where two bands at pH 4.9 demonstrated dominating IgE-binding properties. The 2-D reference maps of AI crude and AI 34 consisted of 40 and 45 protein spots, respectively. The autoradiogram of AI crude demonstrated 35 spots capable of binding rabbit IgG. The main IgE-binding zone was located at pH 4.6-5.2 and 20 kilodaltons with an area of weaker autoradiographic signals at pH 4.6-5.2 and 40 kilodaltons. ET from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose (NC) membranes was quantitative and IAR gave significant radiostaining of spots containing 0.01 and 0.1 microgram of AI crude in the IgG and IgE systems, respectively. For the characterization of the alder pollen extract, horizontal 2-D SDS-PAGE combined with ET and IAR provided a powerful supplement to conventional crossed immuno- and radioimmunoelectrophoretic techniques (CIE/CRIE).

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Ulcerogenic and antiulcerogenic effects of a new antiinflammatory drug, the gamma-lactone-N-ethyl derivative of 6-[1S-(3S,4-dihydro-8-hydroxy-1H-2-benzo- pyran-1-one-3-yl)-3-methylbutylamino]-4S,5S-dihydroxy-6-oxo-3S- ammoniohexanoate, on gastrointestinal tract in rats.

6-[1S-(3S,4-Dihydro-8- hydroxy-1H-2-benzo-pyran-1-one-3-yl)- methylbutylamino]-4S,5S-dihydroxy-6-oxo-3S-ammoniohexanoate (AI-77B)-gamma-lactone-N-ethyl derivative (AI-77-C2) is a new antiinflammatory drug with antiulcer activity. In the first part of the present study the ulcerogenicity of this drug was assessed. Acidic antiinflammatory drugs--indomethacin and diclofenac--and basic antiinflammatory drugs--tiaramide and mepirizole--were used for comparison. Although AI-77-C2 was barely ulcerogenic at 7 h after dosing, some lesions developed in both stomach and intestine at 24 h. Repeated administrations over 5 days appeared to increase its ulcerogenicity and general toxicity. Marked gastric ulcers were induced by indomethacin and diclofenac, and severe intestinal ulcers were also produced at 24 h and by their repeated administration. Tiaramide did not induce marked ulcers in any case. Although the ulcerogenicity of mepirizole was weak at 7 h, severe duodenal ulcers developed at 24 h and after the repeated administration. From the results given above, it was concluded that the ulcerogenicity of AI-77-C2 was relatively low. In the next study, the antiulcer activity of AI-77-C2 was examined in several experimental ulcer models. AI-77-C2 showed a marked inhibition of all the models presently employed, i.e., the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, the pylorus ligation ulcer, the water immersion stress ulcer, and the acetylsalicylic acid-induced ulcer in rats. It was observed that AI-77-C2 suppressed the gastric secretion and movement. It is therefore concluded that the antiinflammatory drug AI-77-C2 has low ulcerogenicity and potent antiulcer activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Artificial insemination with frozen semen. Sex ratio at birth.

The purpose of this study was to find out if cryostorage of human semen affects the sex ratio of births resulting from artificial insemination (AI). A survey of the available literature over the last 10-15 years was undertaken. The sex ratio of 3950 births after AI with frozen semen was compared to that of 3086 births resulting from AI with fresh semen and to the total number of births in Iceland during the 10 year period 1972 to 1981, 44.623 births. The normal predominance slightly decreased in births resulting from AI, both with fresh and frozen semen, 50.4% for AI with fresh semen and 49.8% with frozen semen. The difference between the two types of AI in sex ratio is not significant statistically but the two types of AI combined give a probably significant reduction of the sex ratio (P less than 0.05), compared to the general population. It is concluded that cryostorage of semen has not been found to affect the sex ratio at birth but the practice of AI during the last decade might in some way cause a slight reduction of the secondary sex ratio.

Europe↗

PubMed1984

[Comparative clinico-morphological characteristics of peace-time anaerobic infections].

Altogether 26 cases of anaerobic infection (AI) of various etiology were analysed. Local tissue ischemia and operations on gastrointestinal organs in patients with secondary immunodeficit conditions are the factors facilitating the development of AI. The distinction is made between clostridial AI with a rapidly progressing gaseous gangrene and the non-clostridial AI with a slower course of a serous-purulent phlegmoma. Anaerobic myositis is observed in all forms of AI. Depending on the localisation of AI, anaerobic cellulitis and fasciitis are mentioned which occur mainly in non-clostridial AI. The treatment of AI and the mechanisms of death are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

[Studies on the genesis of the aortic thudding sound in patients with aortic insufficiency, with special reference to the aortic flow pattern (author's transl)].

To clarify the genesis of the aortic thudding sound (AK), phono-, mechano- and pulsed Doppler echocardiography were performed in 16 patients with pure aortic insufficiency (AI), 3 with AI associated with mild aortic stenosis (AIs) and 5 with AI associated with mitral insufficiency (AI + MI). The results obtained were as follows: 1) AK was composed of two components, that is, one (AK1) occurred in early systole and the other (AK2) near the end point of an ejection systolic murmur. Patients studied were divided into 4 groups following the appearance of AK1 and/or AK2: group with only AK1 (4 cases), group with only AK2 (7 cases), group with both AK1 and AK2 (5 cases) and group without AK (8 cases). 2) AK1 was a low frequency sound and was well recorded from the cardiac base to the right supraclavicular region. AK1 was not observed in cases with mild to moderate AI and with AI associated with mild AS. In atrial fibrillation, when the preceding R-R intervals were long, AK1 was loud and appeared in early systole, and when short, small and in mid-systole. Marked augmentation of AK1 was observed in the first beat after premature ventricular contraction with a compensatory pause. 3) AK2 was also low in frequency and was most intensively recorded near the apex. Although the intensity of AK2 tended to increase in the severe cases of AI, AK2 could be observed in mild to moderate cases. Intensity of AK2 also showed the post-extrasystolic potentiation similar to that of AK1. 4) The carotid pulse showed pulsus bisferiens in all cases with AK2 (group with only AK2 and group with both AK1 and AK2). On the other hand, in cases without AK2 (group without AK and group with only AK1), carotid pulse showed a monophasic systolic wave except 3 cases. These results suggested that there was a close relationship between AK2 and pulsus bisferiens in the carotid pulse. (5) In the apex cardiogram (ACG), systolic notches coincident with AK1 and/or AK2 were observed in 10 of 12 cases with AK2 and in 4 of 9 cases with AK1. In cases without AK, however, no notch was seen in ACG. Therefore, these notches might be resulted from the shock of the anterior chest wall produced simultaneously with the occurrence of AK. 6) Flow patterns at the left ventricular outflow tract (aortic flow patterns) were recorded in 13 cases, including 3 with only AK1, 2 with only AK2, 3 with both AK1 and AK2 and 5 without AK. In 5 of 13 cases the flow patterns were recorded simultaneously with phonocardiograms. Systolic aortic flow showed biphasic patterns in all cases with AK2, and monophasic patterns in cases without AK2. AK1 occurred coincidentally with the first peak of the biphasic flow patterns, and AK2 with the second peak. These results suggested that AK1 might be produced by rapid ejection of massive amount of blood containing a regurgitant flow into the aorta with the ordinarily distensiblwe aortic wall, and AK2 by the clash between the second ejected flow and the reflected flow returning from the peripheral artery against the first ejected flow.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Acute cerebrovascular accident and heart disease. Prospective study of 248 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the heart disease associated to different type and sub-types of cerebrovascular disease with particular reference to potential cardiac sources of embolus (CPE). DESIGN: Prospective study in 248 consecutive patients with acute stroke, admitted to a Clinical Medicine Unit in three independent time periods. SETTING: Internal Medicine Clinic of University Hospital in Lisbon. METHODS: Neurologic and cardiologic examination were performed and all patients were also submitted to different complementary tests, including a Computer Tomography Scan of the brain (TAC) and a Echocardiogram (ECO). We identified two types and two sub-types: intracerebral haemorrhage (HI) or ischemic stroke (AI) and among AI, cortical (C) or subcortical (SC) ischemic stroke. For each type and sub-type we evaluated past history, heart disease, hypertension (HTA), electrocardiogram, echocardiogram (ECO) and CPE. PATIENTS: Two hundred and forty eight patients (52% were men) with mean age 68.0 +/- 10.2 years and ages between 40 and 92 years. Thirty seven (15%) died. MAIN RESULTS: Eighty four percent were AI and among them 45% were C. Previous strokes were more prevalent in AI 29% (p < 0.01). There was heart disease in 81% and hypertensive cardiopathy was more frequent in HI 63% (p < 0.002). HTA and atrial fibrillation (FA) were more frequent in HI 83% (p < 0.05) and in AI 25% (p < 0.004) respectively. ECO showed a dilatation of left atrium more frequent in AI 28% (p < 0.05) and left ventricular concentric hypertrophy index (IHCE) in HI 50% (p < 0.05). CPE, including FA, was identified in 34% of patients, was more prevalent in AI 38% (p < 0.001) and among it FA was significantly more frequent in C 32% (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Heart disease is very frequent in stroke. The diagnosis of this condition is very important for stroke prophylaxis and prognosis. HTA and hypertensive cardiopathy have a great prevalence and were more related to HI. CPE and FA were very frequent and their diagnosis are important for prevention of AI and specially for embolic stroke. ECO is useful to identify CPE in elderly patient in particular to characterize heart disease.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

HIV transmission through donor artificial insemination.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and report cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through donor artificial insemination (AI) before 1986 at five infertility clinics. DESIGN: Two types of look-back studies were performed: (1) identification of an HIV-infected woman who reported previous AI, followed by identification of the infected donor(s) and contact tracing of women who were inseminated with his semen, and (2) identification of an HIV-infected donor and subsequent examination of women receiving AI procedures using his semen. SETTING: Five infertility clinics in Los Angeles County, California; San Diego County, California; Arizona; and Vancouver, British Columbia. PATIENTS: A total of 230 women were inseminated with semen from any one of the five identified HIV-infected donors; 199 (87%) consented to HIV testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Seropositivity for HIV among AI recipients. RESULTS: Seven (3.52%) of the 199 women (95% confidence interval, 1.55% to 7.41%) who were artificially inseminated with semen from any of five HIV-infected donors and consented to HIV testing tested HIV-seropositive. Information on HIV risk was available for three of the five donors; all three reported a history of having sex with men. Four HIV-infected women were identified through uncommon circumstances, rather than through routine look-back studies of donors. CONCLUSION: Infection with HIV through donor AI performed before routine HIV screening of semen donors represents a potentially serious threat to women who underwent AI procedures. Public health policies requiring retrospective identification of HIV-infected semen donors and patients receiving AI before 1986, especially in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-prevalent areas, should be considered routine. Women diagnosed with AIDS or HIV infection, in whom no identified risk of HIV acquisition is established, should be questioned about previous AI procedures.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed1993

Results of 527 controlled artificial inseminations in dogs.

During 1990 and 1991, 527 artificial insemination (AI) procedures were performed by 40 veterinarians, under the Swedish Kennel Club control scheme, and reported to the Kennel Club within 14 days. The most common reason for AI (37.2%) was import of fresh and frozen semen or quarantine, i.e. introduction of new genetic material. Fresh semen (468 AIs) was deposited into the cranial vagina, and frozen semen (59 AIs) was inseminated transcervically into the uterus. Pregnancy rates were 54.7% with fresh and 39.0% with frozen semen. When corrected for stage of oestrus at the time of AI and semen quality, the pregnancy rates were 62.3 and 51.1%, respectively. Bitches inseminated with frozen semen had a 29.7% lower pregnancy rate and 30.5% smaller litter size than bitches receiving fresh semen; these differences were statistically significant. Forty-four bitches (8.4%) were also mated. Their pregnancy rate was significantly higher (88.6%; 90.7% corrected) than that of bitches inseminated with fresh semen only. Pregnancy rate was significantly higher in bitches inseminated twice with fresh semen than in those inseminated once only. Litter size and gestation length increased with the number of AIs. Most bitches whelped 62 days after a single AI with fresh or frozen semen, but the gestation period varied between 55 and 69 days. There were significant differences in fertility between breeds. Pup deaths occurred in 33.8% of the litters and the pup death rate during the first 3 weeks of life was 11.6%. The number of pups resulting from AI amounted to 1.1% of the total number of pups registered with the Swedish Kennel Club.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

[A case of sleep apnea syndrome with significant alteration of apnea index by sleep position].

An obese 37-year-old man (130% ideal body weight) was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness. During all-night polysomnography, he showed predominantly obstructive sleep apnea and an apnea index (AI) of 57.5, and was diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, AI values calculated separately for the time in the supine position (AI-S) and in the lateral decubitus position (AI-L) were 82.4 and 5.9, respectively. Moreover, duration of apnea, lowest SaO2, and the quality of sleep were improved when sleeping in the lateral compared to the supine position. After weight reduction of 7 kg, AI in total decreased to 33.2, although AI-S was 77.3 and AI-L was 3.8. The improvement of AI in total to be due to a relative increase during sleep in the lateral position. These results suggest that in some OSAS patients, the sleep position should be taken into account in assessing the severity of the disease or in evaluating the effects of therapy. This study also suggests the efficacy of sleep position adjustment in the treatment of OSAS.

Adult↗