Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome--an unappreciated opportunistic infection.

A case of respiratory hyperinfection syndrome which occurred in a patient on long term corticosteroid therapy is reported here for it's rarity. Intestinal infection with this parasite should be looked for and treated before the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.

Rapid assessment of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade with the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The platelet function analyzer PFA-100 (Dade Behring, Miami, Fla) evaluates platelet function by determining the time to occlusion of an aperture in a membrane coated with collagen and adenosine diphosphate or epinephrine as whole blood flows under shear stress conditions. Platelet aggregation causes aperture occlusion, and results are reported as closure time (CT). Interindividual variability is observed in the level of platelet inhibition achieved with use of the current abciximab dosing regimen (0.

Design and methodology of the ESPRIT trial: evaluating a novel dosing regimen of eptifibatide in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Clinical trials of the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors have shown that these potent antiplatelet agents are effective in reducing the ischemic complications of percutaneous coronary interventions. However, even though stents are now implanted in >75% of percutaneous interventional procedures, only one study, a trial of the monoclonal antibody abciximab, has formally evaluated adjunctive GP IIb/IIIa inhibition in this setting.

Methods And Results: Eptifibatide, a nonimmunogenic and rapidly reversible inhibitor of the platelet receptor integrin IIb/IIIa, has also undergone evaluation as an adjunct to coronary intervention.

Update on Abciximab Readministration During Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

Abciximab is a monoclonal antibody fragment that blocks the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor and is increasingly used as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention. Because some patients will return for additional revascularization procedures, it is anticipated that abciximab retreatment may be necessary. There exists at least the theoretic potential for immunologic reactions and diminished efficacy upon re-exposure to abciximab.

Specific antibody production by V(H)-gene replacement.

V(H)-gene replacement is a recombination event in which a pre-existing immunoglobulin heavy chain gene can be altered by the replacement of the rearranged V(H) gene segment with another V(H) gene segment. Although this event has been demonstrated in various model systems, its role in generating antibody diversity is still unsettled. We have used a genetically modified mouse strain, QM, with a quasi monoclonal primary B cell repertoire specific for NP to determine whether V(H) gene replacement can generate a new antigen specificity.

Uncommon mesiodens--a report of two cases.

Mesiodens is a supernumerary tooth with a cone shaped crown and a short root situated between the maxillary central incisors. Supernumerary teeth occur as isolated dental findings or as part of a syndrome. They are frequently discovered when a normal tooth is either delayed in its eruption or displaced often resulting in arch length inadequacy.

Typhoid fever caused by a typical variants of Salmonella typhi--a preliminary report.

In the study carried out from, February, 1996 to January, 1999. 42 (33.9%) a typical variants of S typhi which fermented sucrose were encountered.

Effect of presence of a dominant follicle on the superovulatory response in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Ten buffalo were superovulated by administration of 8 doses of FSH in a descending schedule spread over 4 d (5.5/5.5, 4.

Efficacy of abciximab readministration in coronary intervention.

Abciximab, an Fab monoclonal antibody fragment that blocks the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, is increasingly used as an adjunct to coronary intervention. Little is known, however, about the efficacy and safety of readministration of abciximab. This study examined and characterized outcomes of patients receiving abciximab for a second time.

Coronary intervention and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin blockade.

In a few short years, platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists have been developed from laboratory curiosities to critical treatment adjuncts to the successful performance of PCI. With more than 15,000 patients participating in trials of these agents during PCI, it is now clear that glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade reduces rates of adverse cardiovascular sequelae after PCI. Abciximab is the most extensively studied agent to date, but trials of other antagonists, particularly eptifibatide and tirofiban, support the utility of this class of therapeutic agents as a whole.

Hepatobiliary cystadenoma presenting with intermittent inferior vena caval obstruction.

Hepatobiliary cystadenomas are rare benign tumours. They form as multilocular cysts in and around the liver. Their presentation is usually at a late stage when their size causes symptoms.

Understanding thrombocytopenia and antigenicity with glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors.

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa receptor antagonists are being used with increasing frequency in the settings of percutaneous coronary interventions and acute ischemic syndromes. The development of thrombocytopenia after GP IIb-IIIa blockade has been observed to some extent with all parenteral GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors studied to date and could potentially limit their effectiveness. The incidence and severity of thrombocytopenia has varied in large clinical trials with GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors, presumably as a consequence of the different structural and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the agents, the dose administered and duration of use, repetition of exposure, and the various drugs coadministered with these agents.

Bleeding complications with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists.

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists are being used with increasing frequency in the settings of percutaneous coronary interventions and acute ischemic syndromes. The development of bleeding complications following GPIIb/IIIa blockade represents a significant limitation to its effectiveness. Baseline characteristics predictive of future bleeding events in patients receiving platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist include older age, low body weight, evolving myocardial infarction, and female sex.

Changes in follicular populations following treatment of buffaloes with PMSG (eCG) and Neutra-PMSG for superovulation.

Some 19 buffaloes were synchronized by administration of a prostaglandin (PG) salt Lutalyse, with a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 25 mg at day -13.

Ultrasound-guided unilateral neck exploration for sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism: is it worthwhile?

The role of preoperative localisation tests before initial neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) remains controversial, as does the optimal surgical approach. We report our experience with preoperative ultrasound (US) and the operative management of sporadic PHP between 1990 and 1995. Preoperative US was carried out by an experienced radiologist.

Haemorrhagic complications of pancreatitis: presentation, diagnosis and management.

Massive haemorrhage is an uncommon complication in pancreatitis. Most affected patients suffer from chronic disease with associated pseudocyst. We present five patients (four male) with a mean age of 41 years (range 34-48 years).

Follicular fluid immunoreactive-inhibin concentrations in relation to follicular diameter and estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone concentrations in individual ovarian follicles in buffalo, Bubalus bubalis.

The objective of this study was to measure the concentrations of immunoreactive inhibin (ir-inhibin) in follicular fluid from individual ovarian follicles and relate them to follicular diameter and follicular fluid concentrations of estradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone in buffalo. Follicular size was measured with an ultrasound machine and follicles were categorized as small (4 to 5 mm diam.), medium (6 to 9 mm diam.

In vitro maturation and fertilization, and subsequent development of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos: effects of oocyte quality and type of serum.

In Experiment 1, to determine the developmental potential of buffalo oocytes of different qualities, compact cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) with an unexpanded cumulus mass, and with homogeneous ooplasm were classified as Grade 1 (with > or =5 layers of cumulus cells) and Grade 2 less than 4 layers of cumulus cells). Grade-3 oocytes were either without cumulus cells or with expanded cumulus mass, and with irregular ooplasm. The oocytes were matured for 24 h at 38.