Detection of fetal NRBCs in maternal blood of pregnant carriers of beta-thalassemia using anti-gamma and anti-epsilon monoclonal antibodies.

Fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) entering maternal circulation during pregnancy constitute a potential source of material for safe and reliable noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. The increased prevalence of beta-thalassemia mutations in countries like Greece may create a problem, making it difficult to distinguish between NRBCs of fetal or maternal origin. Use of Ab against embryonic hemoglobin epsilon may increase specificity for fetal NRBC detection. In the present study, Ab against embryonic hemoglobin epsilon was used in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in order to determine if specificity for fetal NRBC detection could be increased.

Mothers' knowledge and practices related to sun protection in Greece.

We attempted to estimate the level of Greek mothers' knowledge relating to the harmful effects of sunlight and whether this knowledge led to protective measures for them and their children. Between September and November 1993, 315 mothers were randomly selected from the outpatient department of our hospital and interviewed by questionnaire about themselves and their children (56% boys, 44% girls, ages 1-12 yrs). Knowledge was estimated by an index score that for 28% of the mothers was considered poor, for 50% moderate, for 16% good, and for only 6% very good or excellent. The score was positively associated with parent education, urban residence, mother's job relevant to the cosmetics industry or the mass media, and history of sunburn in one or both parents. Scores were also established for sunlight-protective measures taken for themselves (28% poor, 45% moderate, 27% just good) and for their children (24% poor, 46% moderate, 30% just good). These scores were significantly associated only with mothers' knowledge of sun protection. Mothers who used sun protection for themselves also applied it to their children. This study shows that mothers in Greece should be encouraged both to increase their knowledge of sun protection and steadily incorporate it into their lifestyle.

Hepatic uridine-diphosphate glucuronyl transferase activity of guinea pig with scurvy.

Ascorbic acid (AsA) concentrations in plasma exert a modulating effect on the activity of liver enzymes. Since UDP-glucuronyl transferase is a liver enzyme, which is responsible for bilirubin glucuronidation, the effect of varied amounts of AsA on this enzyme activity was studied. Sixty male guinea-pigs were randomly allocated to the following six groups: controls, scorbutic and groups given 2, 5, 10 or 20 mg of ascorbic acid, respectively. All the animals with the vitamin C deficient diet presented clinical signs of scurvy at the end of the experimental period, and had lost both body and liver weight compared to all other groups. Scorbutic animals had very low levels of AsA in the liver compared with controls (0.20 +/- 0.10 and 1.65 +/- 0.45 mg/g liver, respectively) (p less than 0.001). Liver AsA levels increased as the AsA dose increased. The UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity was lower in scorbutic animals than in controls (6.20 +/- 1.95 and 23.85 +/- 4.20 mg bilirubin/g protein/h, respectively) (p less than 0.001). The other groups C, D, E and F also had higher mean levels of UDP-GT activity than the scorbutic group B. Finally, no correlation was found between UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity and ascorbic acid intake.

Augmentation of hepatic uridine-diphosphate glucuronyl transferase activity by antituberculous drugs in hamsters in vivo.

Changes in uridine-diphosphate glucuronyl transferase activity (UDP-GT) in liver homogenates of hamsters treated with different doses of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) and hydrocortisone for several periods of time were studied and expressed as mg of bilirubin conjugated per g of protein per h. INH, RMP, PAS and hydrocortisone induced UDP-GT activity to a statistically significant degree. The optimum dose for high induction was 20 mg for INH, RMP and hydrocortisone, and 200 mg for PAS per kg of body weight. The optimum time of treatment for high induction was 10 consecutive days of intraperitoneal administration for all drugs examined. Such data, particularly for INH and RMP, indicate why patients who receive these drugs show no clinical jaundice, although they develop an hepatitis-like disease with elevation of serum transaminase of hepatic origin. This could be the result of stimulation of the hepatic smooth endoplasmic reticulum which produces rapid conjugation and therefore excretion of bilirubin. Similarly, the antituberculous drugs may cause liver dysfunction by inducing other liver enzymes.

Clinical efficacy of sulbactam/ampicillin in pediatric infections caused by ampicillin-resistant or penicillin-resistant organisms.

Twenty-three children two months to 11 years old were treated with sulbactam/ampicillin or sulbactam/penicillin. Eleven had urinary tract infections (UTI), eight had pus-forming cervical adenitis, and four had lobar pneumonia. Pathogens were isolated from 18 patients: Escherichia coli from 10, Staphylococcus aureus from seven, and Klebsiella pneumoniae from one. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin or penicillin alone. Sulbactam (50 mg/kg per day) plus ampicillin (1:2 or 1:3 ratio) or penicillin (1:1.2 or 1:1.8 ratio) was given by intravenous bolus injection at 6-hr intervals for four to 11 days (mean duration, nine days). All pathogens were eradicated during treatment. Two patients with UTI relapsed after completion of treatment; the isolates were resistant to the combination. Clinical response was rapid and consistent with bacteriologic findings. Twenty-two of 23 children had a favorable clinical response. No systemic or local adverse effects were recorded. One child had eosinophilia and another had neutropenia at the end of treatment. Four children had slight and transient increases in hepatic transaminases. These results indicate that sulbactam/ampicillin may prove safe and effective for the treatment of non-life-threatening pediatric infections.

Alkaline phosphatase levels in healthy Greek children an adolescents.

Serum alkaline phosphatase (A.P.) activity was assayed in 859 healthy children aged 6-18 years on the island of Euboea, Greece. Normal A.P. values (less than 100 U/l) were found in 673 (78.6%), borderline values (100-120 U/l) in 137 (15.7%) and increased values (greater than 120 U/l) in 49 children (5.7%). In both sexes the highest A.P. levels were observed at the age of 13 years followed by a gradual reduction to adult values at the age of 17 years. In general, A.P. levels were higher in boys (mean 64.4 +/- 23.3 U/l) than in girls (mean 56.3 +/- 21.6 U/l). After summer holidays the A.P. was reinvestigated in 36 children who had had high winter values. The levels had then considerably decreased (p less than 0.001); in all but three cases, A.P. levels had returned to normal. Fifteen children with normal A.P. activity at the time of the first examination were reinvestigated after summer holidays and showed also a decrease in A.P. activity.