Video-observed therapy and medication adherence for tuberculosis patients: randomised controlled trial in Moldova.

Introduction: The effectiveness of video-observed therapy (VOT) for treating tuberculosis (TB) has not been measured in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where >95% of TB cases and deaths occur. In this study, we analyse the effectiveness and patient cost-difference of VOT compared to clinic-based directly observed therapy (DOT) in improving medication adherence in Moldova, a LMIC in Eastern Europe.

Methods: The study was a two-arm individually randomised trial with 197 TB patients (n=99 DOT control group; n=98 VOT treatment group; multidrug-resistant TB cases were excluded).

Minimally invasive surgery with locking plate for periprosthetic femoral fractures: technical note.

Purpose: Periprosthetic fractures of the femur are increasing due to the increase of arthroplasties and the aging population. They concern a population that is often elderly and with important comorbidities that complicate managing this already complex pathology. Usual complications of classic osteosynthesis are numerous, including infections and nonunions and the need for delayed weight bearing after surgery.

Critical analysis of olecranon fracture management by pre-contoured locking plates.

Background: Fractures of the proximal ulna are rare and usually managed surgically. Strong fixation of the harware is essential to obtain good outcomes. We report our experience with pre-contoured locking plate fixation of complex olecranon fractures and present a critical appraisal of the outcomes.

Distal targeting device for long Gamma nail(®). Monocentric observational study.

Introduction: Intramedullary nail distal locking screws make it possible to control length and rotation but include an increased risk of radiation exposure. A distal targeting device was recently developed for long Gamma(®) nails (Stryker(®)). The aim of this practical observational study was to evaluate the reliability of this system.

[A 58-year-old hypertensive patient with primary hyperaldosteronism and renal artery stenosis].

Background: Secondary hypertension can rarely be caused by different disorders as shown in the present case with simultaneous occurrence of two possible causes.

Case Report: Magnetic resonance imaging findings of a 58-year-old patient showed an eccentric left renal artery stenosis of 60-70% and an inhomogeneous tumor of the left adrenal gland. After percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations persisted.

Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy with Sodium Phosphate Solution versus Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage: A Multicenter Trial.

Background: Adequate bowel preparation is essential for accurate colonoscopy. Both oral sodium phosphate (NaP) and polyethylene glycol-based lavage (PEG-ELS) are used predominantly as bowel cleansing modalities. NaP has gained popularity due to low drinking volume and lower costs.

Substitution of DNA-contacting amino acids with functional variants in the Gata-1 zinc finger: a structurally and phylogenetically guided mutagenesis.

DNA-binding functionality among transcription factor proteins is afforded by a number of structural motifs, such as the helix-turn-helix, helix-loop-helix, and zinc finger domains. The common thread among these diverse structures is their sequence-specific binding to essential promoter or other genetic regulatory sequences with high selectivity and affinity. One such motif, present in a wide range of organisms from bacteria to vertebrates, is the Gata-type zinc finger.

Spectroscopic and functional determination of the interaction of Pb2+ with GATA proteins.

GATA proteins are transcription factors that bind GATA DNA elements through Cys4 structural zinc-binding domains and play critical regulatory roles in neurological and urogenital development and the development of cardiac disease. To evaluate GATA proteins as potential targets for lead, spectroscopically monitored metal-binding titrations were used to measure the affinity of Pb2+ for the C-terminal zinc-binding domain from chicken GATA-1 (CF) and the double-finger domain from human GATA-1 (DF). Using this method, Pb2+ coordinating to CF and DF was directly observed through the appearance of intense bands in the near-ultraviolet region of the spectrum (250-380 nm).

[Extra-intestinal manifestations and complications in chronic active ulcerative colitis in childhood and adolescence].

History And Clinical Findings: A 18-year-old girl suffered from chronic active ulcerative colitis for ten years with growth retardation, primary amenorrhoea and osteopenia, so that total colectomy had been discussed as a possible treatment option. However, clinical remission was reached using a medication with budesonide (9 mg), mesalazine (3 g) and azathioprine (100 mg) when a painful ulcer occurred at the right lower leg.

Investigations: The clinical examination revealed an ulcer of 7 cm diameter with a red-bluish margin at the right lower leg.

[Blunt injuries of the spleen. What is the role of splenectomy?].

In an exhaustive retrospective study of splenic trauma diagnosed over a 7-year period (1986-1992) in our orthopaedic trauma centre we collected 63 cases. Splenectomy was performed in 25 patients, conservative surgery was performed in 6 and non-surgical conservative therapy was possible in 32. The large percentage of non-surgical cases was possible due to the simple clinical course in cases diagnosed late and because of careful surveillance and the precision of scanographic diagnosis.

Interactive effects of thermal environment and dietary amino acid and fat levels on rate and efficiency of growth of pigs housed in a conventional nursery.

In four trials, 480 weanling pigs were housed in a conventional nursery maintained at 20 or 30 degrees C, which represented a cool and hot thermal environment, respectively. They were allowed ad libitum access to corn-soybean meal-dried whey diets containing .7, 1.

Interactive effects of thermal environment and dietary lysine and fat levels on rate, efficiency, and composition of growth of weanling pigs.

Two trials involving 96 weanling pigs were conducted in which pigs were maintained in constant thermal environments of 20 degrees (cool) or 32 degrees C (hot) and self-fed fortified corn-soybean meal-whey diets that contained three amino acid regimens (.7, 1.0, or 1.

Recombinant porcine somatotropin for sows during late gestation and throughout lactation.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate whether administration of recombinant porcine somatotropin (pST) to sows (Hampshire-Yorkshire) enhanced lactational performance. In Exp. 1, sows (n = 84) were fed a corn-soybean meal diet (17.

Fine structure of the Sertoli cells of the rat testis in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism.

Mature rats were made unilaterally cryptorchid for 28 days. ABP concentrations of the abdominal epididymis were significantly reduced, indicating impaired secretory activity of the Sertoli cells. The FSH serum level was increased and testosterone levels both of the serum and of homogenates of the cryptorchid testis were slightly reduced.

Effects of cyproterone acetate on experimentally induced canine prostatic hyperplasia. A morphological and histochemical study.

The effect of 3 alpha-androstanediol (3 alpha-diol), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and cyproterone acetate (CA) on prostates in castrated beagle dogs were investigated by histological and histochemical examinations. A significant increase of prostatic weight occurred after 6 months' treatment with 3 alpha-diol alone and in combination with E2. Histologically and histochemically, two different types of prostatic enlargement were observed: first, administration of 3 alpha-diol resulted in diffuse glandular hyperplasia with replacement of functional activity monitored by strongly positive reactions for acid phosphatase, aminopeptidase and zinc.

Biochemical and histological studies on prostates in castrated dogs after treatment with androstanediol, oestradiol and cyproterone acetate.

The effect of cyproterone acetate (CA) on experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the castrated dog was investigated. BPH was induced by 6 months' treatment with 3 alpha-androstanediol (3 alpha-diol) alone and in combination with 17 beta-oestradiol (Oe2). RNA, DNA and zinc content of the glands were determined in addition to histological examination and measurement of the prostates.

[Testosterone serum concentrations after subcapsular orchiectomy (author's transl)].

Twelve patients with prostatic carcinoma in stage C or D underwent subcapsular orchiectomy. Testosterone serum concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay before and up to eight months following orchiectomy. After an initial decrease, testosterone concentrations remained between 0.

A study of the capacity for regeneration of rat and human Leydig cells.

The capacity of Leydig cells for regeneration was investigated in 12 patients with prostatic carcinoma, who underwent subcapsular orchidectomy, and in rats after testicular necrosis produced by cadmium chloride. In rats, reappearance of Leydig cells originating from the tunica albuginea could be demonstrated by histology. Testosterone concentrations increased parallel to regeneration of Leydig cells, while LH concentrations declined.

Formal genesis of giant cells in the germinal epithelium in the rat thioglucose model.

The formal genesis of polymorphnucleated giant cells in the testis has been studied in the rat thioglucose model. The giant cells derive mainly from clumped spermatids (greater than 90%) which have lost their contact to Sertoli cells. The process of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis as well as the synchronisation of germ cell maturation apparently depend on intercellular bridges of the germ cell populations.

Some interrelationships between plasma levels of LH, FSH, oestradiol 17beta, androgens and semen analysis data in male infertility patients.

Serum LH, FSH and immunoreactive testosterone-like substances (TLS) have been measured by radioimmunoassay in 130 male infertility patients and oestradiol 17beta in 26 cases. A weak but significant negative correlation was found between FSH and sperm count (rs = -0.19, p less than 0.

Comparison of the biological effectiveness of injected testosterone propionate and testosterone released from silastic capsules.

The in vitro release and biological effectiveness of silicone rubber implants containing testosterone in orchidectomized male rats was investigated over a period of 20 weeks. A marked reduction in release in 0.9% saline solution could be observed in vitro relative to the incubation time in the medium.