Can serum interleukin-6 levels predict the outcome of patients with right iliac fossa pain?

In patients with right iliac fossa (RIF) pain it can be difficult to distinguish between appendicitis and nonspecific abdominal pain (NSAP). In this study we sought to determine whether serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, an early marker of acute inflammation, taken at the time of admission could predict the outcome of patients admitted with RIF pain. Data were collected in a prospective manner on 53 consecutive patients (23 male, 30 female), mean age 22.

Epidural analgesia following upper abdominal surgery: United Kingdom practice.

Background: Epidural Analgesia (EA) may be used to provide pain relief after upper abdominal surgery. A variety of drugs and combinations may be used. Potential side effects lead some to believe EA should be restricted to high care areas.

Phosphorylation and activation of p42 and p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase are required for the P2 purinoceptor stimulation of endothelial prostacyclin production.

Extracellular ATP and ADP, released from platelets and other sites stimulate the endothelial production of prostacyclin (PGI2) by acting on G-protein-coupled P2Y2 and P2Y2 purinoceptors, contributing to the maintenance of a non-thrombogenic surface. The mechanism, widely described as being dependent on elevated cytosolic [Ca2+], also requires protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Here we show that activation of both these P2 receptor types leads to the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of both the p42 and p44 forms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).

The influence of psychiatric hospital and community residence labels on social rejection of the mentally ill.

In order to identify some of the variables influencing public level of acceptance and attitudes towards people with a mental illness, a social distance scale accompanying a case vignette was sent to 488 postal respondents. The vignette contained systematically varied residence labels (psychiatric hospital/community) and behaviours (disturbed/control). There was a 43 per cent response rate.

Metabolic activities of metronidazole-sensitive and -resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori: repression of pyruvate oxidoreductase and expression of isocitrate lyase activity correlate with resistance.

In this study, we compared metronidazole (Mtz)-sensitive and -resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori for metabolic differences that might correlate with drug resistance. Included in this study was an isogenic Mtz(r) strain, HP1107, that was constructed by transforming genomic DNA from Mtz(r) strain HP439 into Mtz(s) strain HP500. Enzyme activities were also measured for Mtz(r) strains grown in the presence or absence of 18 micrograms of metronidazole per ml (ca.

Ageing is associated with reduced basal and stimulated release of nitric oxide by the coronary endothelium.

The ageing process is known to be associated with biochemical and functional changes in the heart. In an attempt to determine whether the ability of the coronary endothelium to secrete nitric oxide (NO) both at rest and in response to pharmacological stimulation is age dependent, we studied four groups of rats of different ages (1, 5, 15 and 26 months, respectively). Basal release of NO by endothelium as assessed by response of coronary flow to L-monomethylarginine, an inhibitor of NO synthase, was higher in the younger age groups.

An economic evaluation of laparoscopic versus open inguinal hernia repair.

Background: The rapid and widespread introduction of minimal access surgery has major implications for the National Health Service. It cannot be assumed that replacing an open procedure with a minimal access alternative will be cost-effective. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is a procedure for which the potential economic benefits are particularly unclear.

A new adhesion assay using buoyancy to remove non-adherent cells.

A new adhesion assay was developed that utilizes buoyancy, rather than washing or centrifugation, to remove non-adherent cells. Biotinylated cells were added to wells containing cell monolayers or purified protein substrates. Non-adherent cells were then removed by floatation on a dense Percoll solution.

Randomised controlled trial of laparoscopic versus open repair of inguinal hernia: early results.

Objective: To establish the safety, short term outcome, and theatre costs of transabdominal laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia performed as day surgery.

Design: Randomised controlled trial. The control operation was the two layer modified Maloney darn.

Ketorolac for early postoperative analgesia.

Study Objective: To determine the efficacy and speed of onset of analgesia of a single dose of intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) ketorolac tromethamine following major orthopedic surgery.

Study Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: A district general hospital in England.

Tactile resolution: peripheral neural mechanisms underlying the human capacity to determine positions of objects contacting the fingerpad.

We measured the ability of humans to discriminate the positions of spherical objects passively contacting the fingerpad. The discrimination threshold averaged 0.55 mm for a moderately curved sphere (radius 5.

Percutaneous endovascular covered stenting of a distal superficial femoral artery occlusion.

Peripheral vascular disease is a common problem in the elderly population. This is commonly treated nowadays by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). When PTA is used in the treatment of superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusions 35% reocclude within 1 year.

NF-E2 and GATA binding motifs are required for the formation of DNase I hypersensitive site 4 of the human beta-globin locus control region.

The beta-like globin genes require the upstream locus control region (LCR) for proper expression. The active elements of the LCR coincide with strong erythroid-specific DNase I-hypersensitive sites (HSs). We have used 5' HS4 as a model to study the formation of these HSs.

Treating childhood asthma with nebulised steroids.

Nebulised steroids are a very effective form of treatment. A very small dose of steroids is inhaled from a nebuliser in the form of a fine spray of minute droplets which allows the drug to be spread over a wide area of the lungs and rapidly absorbed. Nebulisers can be used from one month old upwards, e.

Representation of curved surfaces in responses of mechanoreceptive afferent fibers innervating the monkey's fingerpad.

The aim was to elucidate how the population of digital nerve afferents signals information about the shape of objects in contact with the fingerpads during fine manipulations. Responses were recorded from single mechanoreceptive afferent fibers in median nerves of anesthetized monkeys. Seven spherical surfaces were used, varying from a highly curved surface (radius, 1.

Use of gene amplification to detect Clostridium difficile in clinical specimens.

The combined use of an enrichment broth and gene amplification following simple DNA extraction to detect toxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile in feces was investigated by examining feces from 329 cases of suspected C. difficile infection. DNA was extracted by heating the washed centrifuged deposit from the broth in a microwave oven.

Oncogene expression in hepatic and biliary neoplasms of the fish Rivulus ocellatus marmoratus: correlation with histologic changes.

One day old mangrove rivulus (Rivulus ocellatus marmoratus) were exposed to 9 mg/l diethylnitrosamine (DEN) for 6 weeks, kept in water without DEN for an additional 18-20 months, then necropsied. Oncogene expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining of freeze-dried cryofixed livers. Positive controls for immunohistochemistry included tumors grown by injecting athymic nude mice with cell lines having known oncogene expression.

Oncogene expression in hepatocytes of the fish Rivulus ocellatus marmoratus during the necrotic and regenerative phases of diethylnitrosamine toxicity.

Livers of mangrove rivulus (Rivulus ocellatus marmoratus) were examined after an acutely necrogenic dose of diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN). Immunohistochemical detection of oncoproteins and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), enzyme histochemical detection of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, and histological stains were used in an attempt to separate changes in protooncogene expression related to hepatic regeneration from those changes that were putatively preneoplastic. Perivenous hepatocytes were rounded and shrunken within 3 days of the beginning of DEN exposure, and widespread necrosis and hepatocyte proliferation occurred by 21 days (the last day of DEN exposure).

Living with the opposite sex: the views of long-stay psychiatric patients.

Assumptions tend to be made about the value of long-stay psychiatric patients living on mixed-sex wards. In this study the views of 71 patients living on single-sex continuing care wards were elicited using a six-item structured interview. The data were analysed by quantitative and qualitative methods.

Endogenous enzymes cause structural and chemical artifacts in methacrylate- and celloidin-embedded sections of unfixed freeze-dried tissues.

Bovine exocrine pancreas and fish (Rivulus ocellatus marmoratus) liver containing pancreatic acini were cryofixed, freeze-dried, and embedded in methacrylate or double-embedded in celloidin and paraffin. In chemically unfixed sections incubated in aqueous solutions, dissolution of zymogen granules was coincident with loss of tissue structure and antigenicity. Type II-S soybean protease inhibitor at 150 mg/liter during section flotation and in aqueous reagents used for immunohistochemistry prevented these artifacts and allowed the use of more dilute antibody solutions.

Psychometric properties of a cognitive measure of personality disorders.

This study evaluated the internal consistency, 1-month test-retest reliability, and validity of a cognitive measure of personality disorders, the Belief Questionnaire (BQ; Beck, 1990). A large, nonclinical sample of college undergraduates completed the BQ, the MMPI-Personality Disorder scales (MMPI-PD; Morey, Waugh, & Blashfield, 1985), and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised (PDQ-R; Hyler & Rieder, 1987) at two times separated by 1 month. Results indicated high internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the BQ subscales.

A rare complication of dental treatment: Streptococcus oralis meningitis.

A case of Streptococcus oralis meningitis is reported. This followed extraction of a normal tooth during routine orthodontic treatment. No focus of infection could be demonstrated, either local to or distant from the extraction site.

Relationship between mood changes and the report of personality disorder symptoms.

The relationship between changes in mood state and the report of personality disorder symptoms was examined in a sample of 44 outpatients. Subjects completed a battery of self-report inventories and a semistructured interview on two occasions separated by 6 months. Although significant changes in depression and anxiety were observed over time, personality disorder scores from self-report inventories and the interview were relatively stable over time.

Sodium cromoglycate via inhaler and Autohaler.

One hundred and eighty-one children with asthma were entered into a randomized, controlled, crossover study comparing sodium cromoglycate via a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and a breath-actuated inhaler (Autohaler). There were no significant differences in pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, PFER), symptom scores and bronchodilator use between the two devices. However both patients' and clinicians' opinions of sodium cromoglycate effectiveness were significantly better (P < 0.