Creating leadership collectives for sustainability transformations

Enduring sustainability challenges requires a new model of collective leadership that embraces critical reflection, inclusivity and care. Leadership collectives can support a move in academia from metrics to merits, from a focus on career to care, and enact a shift from disciplinary to inter- and trans-disciplinary research. Academic organisations need to reorient their training programs, work ethics and reward systems to encourage collective excellence and to allow space for future leaders to develop and enact a radically re-imagined vision of how to lead as a collective with care for people and the planet.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-021-00909-y.

Anatomic study of the arterial territories of the face depending on the external carotid artery branches

AIM OF THE STUDY

Blood supply of the skin of the face is mainly provided by 3 branches of the external carotid artery: facial artery (FA), superficial temporal artery (STA) and transverse facial artery (TFA) which is a branch of the STA. The aim of the study was to describe the arterial territories of the skin of the face depending on the external carotid branches.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

After dissection of the first two centimeters of these arteries on one side, we performed an injection of India ink of different colors in the arteries in order to describe the arterial territories (angiosomes) of the face on 24 embalmed cadavers.

RESULTS

The lips and the tip of the nose were vascularized in most cases by the FA. The STA vascularizes the temporal and frontal areas and a part of the auricle. The buccal area blood supply is coming from the FA with a participation of the TFA which is variable (10/24 cases), and the zygomatic area blood supply is coming from the STA with a participation of the TFA (9/24 cases).

CONCLUSIONS

Variations in the angiosomes of the face have to be considered in reconstructive surgery, and in face transplantation.

The transverse facial artery and the mandibular condylar process: An anatomic and radiologic study

INTRODUCTION

In surgical approaches to condylar fractures, there is a risk of damage to the transverse facial artery (TFA) which may in turn account for impaired blood supply to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In order to investigate the risk of damage to the TFA, and prevent lesions to this artery resulting from TMJ surgical procedures, we studied the distance between the TFA and the head of the condylar process.

METHODOLOGY

A dissection study was conducted on 10 fresh cadavers (20 condylar specimens dissected), involving fifty CT scans of the face with intravenous contrast. Vertical distance from the TFA to the top of the mandibular condyle head and distance from the TFA to the lateral aspect of the mandibular condyle were measured.

RESULTS

The lateral aspect of the mandibular condyle is vascularized by branches emanating from the superficial temporal artery (STA) and the TFA. The TFA was located 1.84 ± 0.6 cm below the condylar process of the mandible and ran 1.09 ± 0.54 mm lateral to the head of the mandibular condyle.

DISCUSSION

In order to spare the TFA in fractures involving the condylar neck, surgical approaches to the condyle should preserve the uppermost 2 cm of the lateral surface of the condyle during dissection. Due to the necessity for periosteal elevation of the lateral surface of the condyle in condylar head fractures, it is possible to spare the TFA, running lateral to the condylar neck, and the medial condylar surface in order to leave the branches that derive from the maxillary artery (MA) intact.

[Acyclovir-resistant perineal HSV infection revealing chronic lymphoid leukaemia]

BACKGROUND

Chronic HSV infection is a cause of chronic perineal ulcerations. We report a case of a chronic and refractory HSV infection revealing chronic lymphoid leukaemia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An 85-year-old woman with an 8-month history of chronic perineal ulcerations was referred to our dermatology department. She had no previous medical history of herpes infection. Skin biopsies ruled out carcinoma but were consistent with HSV infection. A local swab was positive for HSV2. Treatment with valaciclovir and intravenous acyclovir (ACV) at the recommended doses was ineffective. Laboratory tests revealed type-B chronic lymphoid leukaemia. Molecular biology studies confirmed the presence of ACV-resistant HSV via decreased thymidine kinase activity (stop codon: M183stop). Foscarnet was administered for a period of 3 weeks with almost complete healing of the ulcerations. Treatment was stopped prematurely due to acute renal insufficiency and the remaining lesions were treated using imiquimod cream. Valaciclovir was prescribed to prevent further episodes. The condition recurred a mere 11 months later.

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of ACV-resistant HSV is 0.32 % in immunocompetent patients and 3.5 % in immunocompromised patients. Insufficient dosing regimens or prolonged treatment with TK inhibitors result in the local selection of pre-existing mutant HSV viruses. Foscarnet, a DNA polymerase inhibitor, is the treatment of choice in HSV-resistant infections. ACV-resistant HSV is less virulent and replicates less, with reactivations being mainly due to wild-type HSV latent in the neural ganglia. Valaciclovir can be used as a preventive treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ACV-resistant HSV infection revealing chronic lymphoid leukaemia.

CONCLUSION

Chronic perineal ulcerations can be the first manifestation of immunodeficiency seen for example with haematological diseases. In the event of clinical resistance of an HSV infection to recommended thymidine kinase inhibitor regimens, the use of foscarnet should be considered.

Analysis of the Transcriptome of the Infective Stage of the Beet Cyst Nematode, H. schachtii

The beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, is a major root pest that significantly impacts the yield of sugar beet, brassicas and related species. There has been limited molecular characterisation of this important plant pathogen: to identify target genes for its control the transcriptome of the pre-parasitic J2 stage of H. schachtii was sequenced using Roche GS FLX. Ninety seven percent of reads (i.e., 387,668) with an average PHRED score > 22 were assembled with CAP3 and CLC Genomics Workbench into 37,345 and 47,263 contigs, respectively. The transcripts were annotated by comparing with gene and genomic sequences of other nematodes and annotated proteins on public databases. The annotated transcripts were much more similar to sequences of Heterodera glycines than to those of Globodera pallida and root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Analysis of these transcripts showed that a subset of 2,918 transcripts was common to free-living and plant parasitic nematodes suggesting that this subset is involved in general nematode metabolism and development. A set of 148 contigs and 183 singletons encoding putative homologues of effectors previously characterised for plant parasitic nematodes were also identified: these are known to be important for parasitism of host plants during migration through tissues or feeding from cells or are thought to be involved in evasion or modulation of host defences. In addition, the presence of sequences from a nematode virus is suggested. The sequencing and annotation of this transcriptome significantly adds to the genetic data available for H. schachtii, and identifies genes primed to undertake required roles in the critical pre-parasitic and early post-parasitic J2 stages. These data provide new information for identifying potential gene targets for future protection of susceptible crops against H. schachtii.

Comparison of a Real-Time Multiplex PCR and Sequetyping Assay for Pneumococcal Serotyping

BACKGROUND

Pneumococcal serotype identification is essential to monitor pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness and serotype replacement. Serotyping by conventional serological methods are costly, labour-intensive, and require significant technical expertise. We compared two different molecular methods to serotype pneumococci isolated from the nasopharynx of South African infants participating in a birth cohort study, the Drakenstein Child Health Study, in an area with high 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) coverage.

METHODS

A real-time multiplex PCR (rmPCR) assay detecting 21 different serotypes/-groups and a sequetyping assay, based on the sequence of the wzh gene within the pneumococcal capsular locus, were compared. Forty pneumococcal control isolates, with serotypes determined by the Quellung reaction, were tested. In addition, 135 pneumococcal isolates obtained from the nasopharynx of healthy children were tested by both serotyping assays and confirmed by Quellung testing. Discordant results were further investigated by whole genome sequencing of four isolates.

RESULTS

Of the 40 control isolates tested, 25 had a serotype covered by the rmPCR assay. These were all correctly serotyped/-grouped. Sequetyping PCR failed in 7/40 (18%) isolates. For the remaining isolates, sequetyping assigned the correct serotype/-group to 29/33 (88%) control isolates. Of the 132/135 (98%) nasopharyngeal pneumococcal isolates that could be typed, 69/132 (52%) and 112/132 (85%) were assigned the correct serotype/-group by rmPCR and sequetyping respectively. The serotypes of 63/132 (48%) isolates were not included in the rmPCR panel. All except three isolates (serotype 25A and 38) were theoretically amplified and differentiated into the correct serotype/-group with some strains giving ambigous results (serotype 13/20, 17F/33C, and 11A/D/1818F). Of the pneumococcal serotypes detected in this study, 69/91 (76%) were not included in the current PCV13. The most frequently identified serotypes were 11A, 13, 15B/15C, 16F and 10A.

CONCLUSION

The rmPCR assay performed well for the 21 serotypes/-groups included in the assay. However, in our study setting, a large proportion of serotypes were not detected by rmPCR. The sequetyping assay performed well, but did misassign specific serotypes. It may be useful for regions where vaccine serotypes are less common, however confirmatory testing is advisable.

Looking to the future: Framing the implementation of interprofessional education and practice with scenario planning

BACKGROUND

Adapting to interprofessional education and practice requires a change of perspective for many health professionals. We aimed to explore the potential of scenario planning to bridge the understanding gap and framing strategic planning for interprofessional education (IPE) and practice (IPP), as well as to implement innovative techniques and technology for large-group scenario planning.

METHODS

A full-day scenario planning workshop incorporating innovative methodology was designed and offered to participants. The 71 participants included academics from nine universities, as well as service providers, government, students and consumer organisations. The outcomes were evaluated by statistical and thematic analysis of a mixed method survey questionnaire.

RESULTS

The scenario planning method resulted in a positive response as a means of collaboratively exploring current knowledge and broadening entrenched attitudes. It was perceived to be an effective instrument for framing strategy for the implementation of IPE/IPP, with 81 percent of respondents to a post-workshop survey indicating they would consider using scenario planning in their own organisations.

DISCUSSION

The scenario planning method can be used by tertiary academic institutions as a strategy in developing, implementing and embedding IPE, and for the enculturation of IPP in practice settings.

Caries burden and efficacy of a referral pathway in a cohort of preschool refugee children

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the early caries experience and the efficacy of a community based dental referral pathway in preschool refugees in Western Australia.

METHODS

Preschool refugee children referred to the Western Australian paediatric hospital Refugee Health Clinic were prospectively screened for caries by a paediatric dentist before being referred to community dental clinics. Dental forms and medical records were audited to assess decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft), medical data and dental services engagement. Poisson regression analysis determined the contribution of count variables to the final model.

RESULTS

Among the 105 screened children (54% male, median age 3.2 years, 41% Burmese), community dental clinic engagement was low (46%, n=48). Of the 62% with caries (n=65/105, mean dmft 5.2, SD 4.1), 45% were recommended for specialist dental services and 48% were treated. After adjustment for age, gender and total number of teeth, caries incidence was significantly associated with BMI-for-age Z score (p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Preschool refugee caries burden was high. The community dental referral pathway was ineffective compared to co-located intersectorial dental screening. Specialist dental service needs are high in this cohort and require a targeted approach.

Sicca syndrome and dementia in a patient with hepatitis C infection: a case report with unusual bifocal extrahepatic manifestations

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are associated with extrahepatic manifestations in 40-75 % of cases. Sialitis and secondary Sjögren syndrome are well characterized complications of chronic HCV infections but the mechanisms (primary or secondary) leading to xerostomia are not understood. Similarly, brain lesions due to HCV can be primary or secondary but the pathology of primary HCV-related brain lesions is not well described.

CASE REPORT

We report the postmortem case of a 60-year old patient initially presenting with sicca syndrome and dementia. HCV was identified in the brain but not in the salivary glands using transcription-mediated amplification (TMA). Focal sialitis was found in submandibular glands. Neuropathological examination revealed the presence of multiple dot-sized demyelination foci.

CONCLUSION

Sicca syndrome is a common concern in chronic HCV infections and may be due to secondary immune mechanisms (we could not isolate HCV in salivary gland tissues). TMA had never been applied to the detection of viruses in salivary glands and neural tissues and proves to be a promising technique. Neuropathological reports in HCV infections are rare and the lesions we report may be the first characterization of the direct effect of HCV on brain cells. More cases are needed to define the full spectrum of lesions potentially caused by the direct action of the HCV on salivary glands and neural tissues.

'I've broken my neck or something!' The general practice experience of whiplash

OBJECTIVE

To explore the experiences of patients and GPs concerning the management of mild to moderate whiplash.

METHODS

Qualitative study using phenomenology. In-depth interviews with patients and their treating GPs. General practices in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. Participants. Maximum variation sample of nine patients suffering from mild to moderate whiplash and their treating GPs. GPs identified patients with recent whiplash. In-depth interviews were conducted with both groups. Patients were telephoned 3 months later to evaluate progress. Analysis used a constant comparative process and independent transcript review assisted by N-Vivo software.

RESULTS

Patients articulated a need to be understood by a physician whom they knew and trusted. For all, the principal underlying concerns were about pain and the financial and physical impact of the injury, particularly in view of its perceived potential to harm the spine. While most patients expected medical interventions to help facilitate speedy recovery, physicians were far more pessimistic. Despite acknowledging the importance of addressing psychological needs, most GPs underestimated the degree of patient distress in the post-injury period. Although guardedly supportive of the local insurance system, GPs were scornful of patients seeking inappropriate compensation.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the influence of the patient-doctor relationship on clinical care in patients with whiplash, suggesting that the path to patient recovery and physician satisfaction may benefit if clinicians better understand patient experiences. The disconnect between patient and practitioner conceptualization of the problem challenges quality patient-centred care.

Post-thrombotic syndrome, recurrence, and death 10 years after the first episode of venous thromboembolism treated with warfarin for 6 weeks or 6 months

BACKGROUND

The influence of the duration of anticoagulant therapy after venous thromboembolism (VTE) on the long-term morbidity and mortality is unclear.

AIM

To investigate the long-term sequelae of VTE in patients randomized to different duration of secondary prophylaxis.

METHODS

In a multicenter trial comparing secondary prophylaxis with vitamin K antagonists for 6 weeks or 6 months, we extended the originally planned 2 years follow-up to 10 years. The patients had annual visits and at the last visit clinical assessment of the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) was performed. Recurrent thromboembolism was adjudicated by a radiologist, blinded to treatment allocation. Causes of death were obtained from the Swedish Death Registry.

RESULTS

Of the 897 patients randomized, 545 could be evaluated at the 10 years follow-up. The probability of developing severe PTS was 6% and any sign of PTS was seen in 56.3% of the evaluated patients. In multivariate analysis, old age and signs of impaired circulation at discharge from the hospital were independent risk factors at baseline for development of PTS after 10 years. Recurrent thromboembolism occurred in 29.1% of the patients with a higher rate among males, older patients, those with permanent triggering risk factor - especially with venous insufficiency at baseline - signs of impaired venous circulation at discharge, proximal deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. Death occurred in 28.5%, which was a higher mortality than expected with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 1.43 (95% CI 1.28-1.58), mainly because of a higher mortality than expected from cancer (SIR 1.83; 95% CI 1.44-2.23) or from myocardial infarction or stroke (SIR 1.28; 95% CI 1.00-1.56). The duration of anticoagulation did not have a statistically significant effect on any of the long-term outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The morbidity and mortality during 10 years after the first episode of VTE is high and not reduced by extension of secondary prophylaxis from 6 weeks to 6 months. A strategy to reduce recurrence of VTE as well as mortality from arterial disease is needed.

Sorbin in the porcine gastrointestinal tract and pancreas: an immunocytochemical analysis

Sorbin is a 153-amino acid peptide that was initially discovered in the porcine duodenum. We have reported previously that this peptide regulates intestinal electrolyte transport and have described accumulation sites in the rat digestive tract. In the present study, we investigated the anatomical distribution and the site(s) of sorbin production in the porcine digestive tract using immunocytochemistry. The use of polyclonal antisera, which by cross-reaction studies were shown to be specific for different regions of the molecule, revealed a diversified distribution. Sorbin predominated in endocrine cells preferentially localized in the pyloric glands, duodenal crypts of Lieberkühn, and pancreatic islets; in the gastrointestinal tract, sorbin coexisted with Met-enkephalin or with substance P in a small fraction of serotonin-storing [enterochromaffin (ED)] cells, i.e. EC2 cells and EC1 cells, respectively; in the pancreas, sorbin coexisted with insulin in the beta-cells, also considered as serotonin-storing cells in the pig, and with EC cells in the exocrine pancreas. An enteric neuronal system containing sorbin was also reported. Our results demonstrate that sorbin is a component of the serotonin-storing cell type in the porcine gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, and suggest potential directions to investigate the functions of this new regulatory peptide.

The duration of oral anticoagulant therapy after a second episode of venous thromboembolism. The Duration of Anticoagulation Trial Study Group

BACKGROUND

A consensus has not been reached about the optimal duration of oral anticoagulant therapy after a second episode of venous thromboembolism.

METHODS

In a multicenter trial, we compared six months of oral anticoagulant therapy with anticoagulant therapy continued indefinitely in patients who had had a second episode of venous thromboembolism. Of 227 patients enrolled, 111 were randomly assigned to six months of anticoagulation and 116 were assigned to receive anticoagulant therapy indefinitely; for both groups, the target international normalized ratio was 2.0 to 2.85. The initial episodes of deep-vein thrombosis (n = 193) and pulmonary embolism (n = 34), as well as recurrent episodes, were all objectively confirmed.

RESULTS

After four years of follow-up, there were 26 recurrences of venous thromboembolism that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria, 23 in the group assigned to six months of therapy (20.7 percent) and 3 in the group assigned to continuing therapy (2.6 percent). The relative risk of recurrence in the group assigned to six months of therapy, as compared with the group assigned to therapy of indefinite duration, was 8.0 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.5 to 25.9). There were 13 major hemorrhages, 3 in the six-month group, (2.7 percent) and 10 in the infinite-treatment group (8.6 percent). The relative risk of major hemorrhage in the six-month group, as compared with the infinite-treatment group was 0.3 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.1 to 1.1). There was no difference in mortality between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic oral anticoagulation that was continued for an indefinite period after a second episode of venous thromboembolism was associated with a much lower rate of recurrence during four years of follow-up than treatment for six months. However, there was a trend toward a higher risk of major hemorrhage when anticoagulation was continued indefinitely.

Effect of diets varying in nitrogen or phosphorus content on indicators of bone growth in lambs

Growing lambs were fed diets low in nitrogen and phosphorus (LNLP), low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus (LNHP), high in nitrogen and low in phosphorus (HNLP) or high in nitrogen and phosphorus (HNHP) and the effects on bone growth and on blood and urinary bone marker levels or excretion rates were monitored. Plasma calcium concentrations were higher, and phosphorus concentrations lower, in lambs fed the low phosphorus diets but there were no differences in plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) concentrations. Lambs fed both low phosphorus diets (LNLP and HNLP) had lower plasma osteocalcin and higher bone-specific alkaline phosphatase concentrations than those fed the high phosphorus diets. Urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline excretion were also affected by treatment, with their rates of excretion being highest in lambs fed the diet low in both nitrogen and phosphorus (LNLP). Lambs fed the low phosphorus diets were lighter in weight at slaughter and had lighter bones that were less well mineralized than those fed the high phosphorus diets. Reducing the nitrogen content of the diet appeared to have little effect on bone composition. These results suggest that bone markers that have proved useful in the diagnosis and treatment of bone disease are sensitive to variation in nutrient supply and may prove useful in early detection of nutrient deficiencies that affect bone growth.

Randomized trial of insulin-glucose infusion followed by subcutaneous insulin treatment in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (DIGAMI study): effects on mortality at 1 year

OBJECTIVES

We tested how insulin-glucose infusion followed by multidose insulin treatment in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction affected mortality during the subsequent 12 months of follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Despite significant improvements in acute coronary care, diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction still have a high mortality rate.

METHODS

A total of 620 patients were studied: 306 randomized to treatment with insulin-glucose infusion followed by multidose subcutaneous insulin for > or = 3 months and 314 to conventional therapy.

RESULTS

The two groups were well matched for baseline characteristics. Blood glucose decreased from 15.4 +/- 4.1 to 9.6 +/- 3.3 mmol/liter (mean +/- SD) in the infusion group during the 1st 24 h, and from 15.7 +/- 4.2 to 11.7 +/- 4.1 among control patients (p < 0.0001). After 1 year 57 subjects (18.6%) in the infusion group and 82 (26.1%) in the control group had died (relative mortality reduction 29%, p = 0.027). The mortality reduction was particularly evident in patients who had a low cardiovascular risk profile and no previous insulin treatment (3-month mortality rate 6.5% in the infusion group vs. 13.5% in the control group [relative reduction 52%, p = 0.046]; 1-year mortality rate 8.6% in the infusion group vs. 18.0% in the control group [relative reduction 52%, p = 0.020]).

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin-glucose infusion followed by a multidose insulin regimen improved long-term prognosis in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.

A comparison of six weeks with six months of oral anticoagulant therapy after a first episode of venous thromboembolism. Duration of Anticoagulation Trial Study Group

BACKGROUND

The optimal duration of oral anticoagulant therapy after a first episode of venous thromboembolism is still a matter of debate.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter trial comparing six weeks of oral anticoagulant treatment with six months of such therapy in patients who had a first episode of venous thromboembolism. Anticoagulant therapy consisted of warfarin or dicumarol. Of the 902 patients enrolled, 5 were later excluded because they had congenital protein C deficiency; 443 were randomly assigned to receive six weeks of oral anticoagulant therapy with a targeted international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 to 2.85, and 454 were randomly assigned to receive six months of such therapy. The initial diagnoses were confirmed by means of venography in cases of deep-vein thromboses (n = 790) and with perfusion-ventilation scanning or angiography in cases of pulmonary embolism (n = 107); recurrences were confirmed in the same way.

RESULTS

After two years of follow-up, there had been 123 recurrences of venous thromboembolism that met the diagnostic criteria, 80 in the six-week group (18.1 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 14.5 to 21.6) and 43 in the six-month group (9.5 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 6.8 to 12.2). The odds ratio for recurrence in the six-week group was 2.1 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.4 to 3.1). There was no difference in mortality or the rate of major hemorrhage between the six-week and six-month groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Six months of prophylactic oral anticoagulation after a first episode of venous thromboembolism led to a lower recurrence rate than did treatment lasting for six weeks. The difference between the two groups occurred between 6 weeks and 6 months after the start of treatment, and the rates of recurrence remained nearly parallel for 1 1/2 years thereafter.

Pharmacokinetic, metabolic, and antidiarrheal properties of (D and L) heptapeptides of sorbin in rodent

The C-terminal heptapeptide-amide (C7-sorbin) is the minimal biologically active fragment of sorbin inducing an increase in intestinal hydroelectrolytic absorption. An analogue (D7-sorbin), characterized by the replacement of the ultimate C-terminal amino acid L-alanine-amide by D-alanine-amide, was synthetized. For pharmacokinetic studies, D7-sorbin and C7-sorbin were tritium labeled. After IV injection, clearances were 10.6 and 30.2 ml-1 for D7-sorbin and C7-sorbin, respectively, and MRT were 34 and 18 min. After SC administration, Cmax attained 0.41% and 0.12% of the dose/ml, respectively. The IP route showed a 45-min delay before Cmax and a 100% bioavailability for both peptides. D7-sorbin was principally excreted in urine, as shown by balance study, and in part in intact form, as controlled by mass spectrometry. D7-sorbin induced a significant decrease of the VIP-induced ileal secretion, previously observed with C7-sorbin. The change of L-Ala to D-Ala increased the stability of the synthetic C-terminal peptide of sorbin whereas its biological activity, bioavailability, and route of elimination were unchanged.

Urinary hydroxypyridinium crosslinks of collagen in population-based screening for overt vertebral osteoporosis: results of a pilot study

The urinary pyridinium crosslinks pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) have been shown to provide valid indices of bone resorption. At present, both crosslink components are determined by reversed-phase HPLC, a time-consuming method precluding the use of these markers for routine purposes. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop simple immunoassays for the rapid measurement of urinary crosslinks, and their application to large-scale osteoporosis screening has been proposed. To evaluate the applicability and diagnostic validity of pyridinium crosslink measurements for screening purposes, urinary concentrations of total and free PYD and DPD were determined by HPLC and immunoassay technique (ELISA) in a sample of 269 individuals (male to female ratio = 130:139; age 50-81 years) recruited at random within a population survey of vertebral osteoporosis. On a molar basis, ELISA measures of crosslink-related epitopes were highly correlated with both total and free PYD and DPD as determined by HPLC (r > 0.82, p < 0.001). Age-specific means for creatinine-corrected total and free pyridinium crosslinks were significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.001). In both sexes, neither age nor anthropometric variables (weight, height, and body mass index) showed a linear effect on the urinary crosslink/creatinine ratio. On average, 50% of the total amount of urinary crosslinks were present in free form. For both PYD and DPD, this proportion was significantly higher in women than in men (p < 0.05), but no change was observed with age or anthropometric measures. The excretion of pyridinium crosslinks was higher in osteoporotic (n = 18) than in nonosteoporotic individuals (n = 208) from the same population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accelerated nodulosis, pleural effusion, and pericardial tamponade during methotrexate therapy

We describe a patient with seropositive erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed accelerated nodulosis, pleural effusion, and pericardial tamponade during methotrexate (MTX) therapy while her arthritis remained inactive. MTX is an effective therapy for the articular manifestations of RA. However, on occasion it may result in triggering the development of extraarticular manifestations of RA.

Effects of low phosphate intake on bone and mineral metabolism and microbial protein synthesis in lambs

Growing lambs were fed diets either low or adequate in phosphorus and their effects on Ca and P retention, bone formation and resorption and on ruminal microbial protein synthesis were measured. Plasma osteocalcin was used as an indicator of bone formation rate. Levels in plasma were lower in lambs fed the low P diet and were associated with a fall in plasma P concentration and reduced Ca and P retention. Low P intake had no effect on microbial protein synthesis or on bone resorption determined using urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline as markers. These results suggest that lack of mineral, rather than reduced ruminal microbial protein synthesis, is the main factor contributing to the reduction in bone formation rate seen in lambs fed low P diets.

Pharmacokinetics and organ distribution of the sorbin C-terminal peptides

Sorbin is a 153 amino acid peptide isolated from porcine small intestine. The heptapeptide-amide is the minimal active site of the natural molecule. A comparison of the distribution of C-7 and C-20 sorbin, which have been shown to share the activity of sorbin in increasing intestinal absorption of electrolytes, was undertaken by radioimmunoassay, after perfusion of 200 micrograms/kg/h. A longer half-life in plasma was observed for C-20 sorbin than for C-7 sorbin, with a clearance rate of 18 +/- 4 ml/min/kg vs. 40.6 +/- 13.5 ml/min/kg and a distribution volume of 192 +/- 35 ml/kg vs. 286 +/- 123 ml/kg. The accumulation of tritiated C-7 sorbin was observed in enterocytes, serosal acini of the salivary glands, and fundus chief cells. The recovery of intact peptide in the intestine was 0.06% per gram of tissue. Eighteen percent of the peptide was detected in urine.

Interaction between pepsin and acid secretion during fundic perfusion in cat and rabbit

1. The effect of perfusion at pH 5.5 of a Heidenhain pouch on acid and pepsin secretion was studied in cats and rabbits. 2. In basal conditions, acid secretion was not modified by the perfusion while pepsin secretion was increased in both species. 3. After a meal, the perfusion did not modify the stimulation of acid secretion in cats nor the absence of secretions in rabbit. Stimulation of pepsin secretion was the same with or without perfusion in both species. 4. In rabbit, in contrast to cat, pepsin and acid secretions were independent during the meal-induced phase of gastric secretion.

Comparative duodenal, jejunal and ileal responses to luminal saline load

Intestinal ionic exchanges were studied in rat duodenal, jejunal and ileal ligated loops in response to different luminal saline loads: NaCl concentration varied from 150-0 mM, solutions being made isoosmotic with mannitol. The contact delay was 60 min. An exponential relationship was found between water, Na and Cl movements and the initial saline concentration. Maximal absorption was obtained with 150 mM NaCl, and was significantly higher in the duodenum than in the jejunum and ileum. The NaCl concentration for which water, Na, and Cl movements were null was approximately 70 mM NaCl in the duodenum and jejunum, 41 mM for Na and 18 mM for Cl in the ileum. The water efflux induced by the 0-mM NaCl test solution was maximal in the duodenum (1.5 +/- 0.2 ml/h) and decreased in the jejunum (0.8 +/- 0.1 ml/h) and ileum (0.3 +/- 0.1 ml/h) as did sodium, chloride and non-chloride anion efflux. These data support the functional heterogeneity of the small intestine regulating the water and ion exchange in response to luminal saline load, the main difference being connected with the efflux capacity of the mucosa, decreasing from the duodenum to the jejunum and ileum.