Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct in zygomycosis: randomized controlled trial in a murine model.

Zygomycosis was induced by injecting CD-1 mice with 5 mg of intraperitoneal deferoxamine and then 10(6) CFU of intravenous and intrasinus Rhizopus arrhizus. The addition of hyperbaric oxygen (2.0 atm absolute twice daily) to amphotericin B did not improve survival over that achieved with amphotericin B and placebo air treatments.

Intravascular lymphomatosis: contribution of cerebral MRI findings to diagnosis.

Intravascular lymphomatosis (IL) is a rare variant of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with an unusual predilection for the central nervous system (CNS). Most cases are not diagnosed until postmortem because of variable clinical presentation and nonspecific laboratory findings. Neuroimaging findings vary widely and range from diffuse involvement of the deep white matter to infarct-like lesions. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show parenchymal and meningeal gadolinium enhancement. The authors describe brain MRI findings of linear, punctate, and patchy enhancement suggestive of CNS IL in two patients confirmed by brain biopsy/histologic studies. High index of clinical suspicion and careful interpretation of MRI (including gadolinium contrast studies) may contribute to premortem diagnosis and early intervention of this often-missed disease.

Status of the NASA SETI Sky Survey microwave observing project.

The Sky Survey observing program is one of two complementary strategies that NASA plans to use in its microwave Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The primary objective of the Sky Survey is to search the entire sky over the frequency range 1000-10,000 MHz for evidence of narrow band signals of extraterrestrial, intelligent origin. Spectrum analyzers with upwards of 10 million channels and data rates in excess of 10 gigabits per second are required to complete the survey in less than 7 years. To lay the foundation for the operational SETI Sky Survey, a prototype system has been built to test and refine real time signal detection algorithms, to test scan strategies and observatory control functions, and to test algorithms designed to reject radio frequency interference. This paper presents a high level description of the prototype hardware and software and reports on the preparations to deploy the system to the 34-m antenna at the research and development station of NASA's Deep Space Communication Complex, Goldstone, California.

Mild and moderate endometriosis. Comparison of treatment modalities for infertile couples.

A series of 1,268 consecutive patients with stage I and II endometriosis (American Fertility Society classification) were treated for the disease. In 675, no other factors contributed to their infertility. Among these patients, with no problems other than mild endometriosis, 57% (16/28) became pregnant when treated expectantly, 54% (51/95) after being treated medically, 47% (9/19) after laparoscopic cautery treatment, 81% (147/181) after laparoscopic laser treatment and 84% (97/116) after conservative surgery (laparotomy). Statistical analysis of the pregnancy rates revealed no difference between expectant, medical and laparoscopic cautery treatment. No difference was noted between laparotomy and laser laparoscopy; however, there was a statistically significant difference between these treatments and expectant, medical and cautery treatment. Similar results were seen with stage II endometriosis in couples with no contributing factors other than endometriosis: 39% of patients (23/59) became pregnant after medical treatment, 70% (80/115) after laser laparoscopy and 74% (46/62) after undergoing major conservative treatment (laparotomy). A statistically significant difference between medical treatment and laparotomy as well as laser laparoscopy was noted. However, no such difference existed between laparotomy and laser laparoscopy. Therefore, it appears that in experienced hands the use of laser laparoscopy in stage I and II endometriosis is as successful as major surgery and statistically significantly better than expectant, medical and laparoscopic cautery treatment.

Vaginal gamete intrafallopian transfer. Experience with 14 cases.

A procedure utilizing transvaginal aspiration of stimulated gametes followed by transcervical, ultrasound-guided catheterization of the tubal ostia was performed as a modification of the standardized gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) technique. Among 14 patients with 16 cycles there were four normal, intrauterine pregnancies and one ectopic pregnancy. In two patients the beta-human gonadotropin level rose significantly and then started to fall; the patients aborted spontaneously. The procedure can be performed with a higher degree of patient acceptance than can traditional GIFT, and the success rate in this small series was promising.

An investigation of the relationship between emotional maladjustment and infertility.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the psychologic test results of women diagnosed with infertility as compared with the general population of women. The infertile group consisted of 150 women, whereas the control group included 50 women. Both groups were similar in regard to age and number of years married. The tests administered were: the 16 Personality Factor, the IPAT Anxiety Scale, the IPAT Depression Scale, the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, and the Internal-External Scale (locus of control). Scores on a total of 41 test variables did not differ significantly between the two groups. In fact, the means and standard deviations for all variables were remarkably similar. This study concludes that significant emotional maladjustment is no more prevalent in women coping with infertility than for the general population of women. Results from this investigation cast doubt on the historical assumption that stress may be a causal factor in infertility.

The use of CO2 laser laparoscopy for treating endometriosis.

The utilization of CO2 laser laparoscopy has become an increasingly accepted procedure because of its ability to obviate the need for major surgery. The accuracy of the laser beam through its delivery system, in addition to minimal tissue damage without injury to adjacent structures, makes it ideal for treating minimal and moderate endometriosis. Its use in individuals with endometriosis may render unnecessary other medical treatments, since therapy can be performed at the same time that the disease is found. This therapy appears to be as successful as medical treatment, or more so, since 76% of patients with minimal disease as the only explainable fertility problem became pregnant after treatment. The advantages of this tool for treatment of endometriosis include high success rate, immediate treatment with a very small increase of operating room time, and the ability to treat certain conditions accompanying endometriosis which cannot be accomplished with medicine alone (e.g., adhesions).

Synthesis of 2-bromoacetamidoestrone methyl ether and study of the steroid-binding site of human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase.

To characterize further the active site of human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62), we have synthesized 2-bromoacetamidoestrone methyl ether. The affinity-labeling steroid is a substrate for the homogeneous enzyme. It inactivates the enzyme in a time-dependent, irreversible manner which follows pseudo-first order kinetics. Further, inactivation conducted with varying steroid concentration displays saturation kinetics. When 1.7 x 10(-6) M enzyme is inactivated by 2.6 x 10(-4) M 2-bromoacetamidoestrone methyl ether, the presence of an equimolar concentration of estradiol or 5.2 x 10(-4) M concentrations of NAD+, NADP+, or NADPH markedly slow the rate of inactivation. Bromoacetate (2.6 x 10(-4) M) does not inactivate the enzyme. After inactivation with 2-bromo[2'-14C]acetamidoestrone methyl ether, amino acid analysis reveals carboxymethylated derivatives of cysteine, histidine, and lysine containing 65, 25, and 8%, respectively, of the total incorporated carboxymethyl groups. The presence of estradiol, NADP+, or NADPH clearly inhibits alkylation of cysteinyl and histidyl residues and slows the rate of enzyme inactivation. Protection of these residues by both estradiol and NADPH suggests that they may actually be in the cofactor region of the active site, that this region is close to the steroid A-ring, and that binding of cofactor, by physical interposition, denies the reagent-bearing steroid access to these residues.