Cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay by manual and automated scoring: calibration curves and dose prediction.

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes is one of the best standardized and validated techniques for individual radiation dose assessment. This method has been proposed as an alternative to the dicentric chromosome assay, which is considered the "gold standard" in biological dosimetry because it requires less time and cytogenetic expertise. Nevertheless, for application as a biodosimetry tool in large-scale nuclear or radiological accidents, the manually performed cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay needs further strategies (e.g., the automation of micronucleus scoring) to speed up the analysis. An essential prerequisite for radiation dose assessment is to establish a dose-effect curve. In this study, blood samples of one healthy subject were irradiated with seven increasing doses of x-ray (240 kVp, 1 Gy min⁻¹) ranging from 0.25-4.0 Gy to generate calibration curves based on manual as well as on automated scoring mode. The quality of the calibration curves was evaluated by determination of the dose prediction accuracy after the analysis of 10 blood samples from the same donor exposed to unknown radiation doses. The micronucleus frequencies in binucleated cells were scored manually as well as automatically and were used to assess the absorbed radiation doses with reference to the respective calibration curve. The accuracy of the dose assessment based on manual and automatic scoring mode was compared.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis with prulifloxacin in women undergoing induced abortion: a randomized controlled trial]. / Studio clinico randomizzato sulla profilassi antibiotica con prulifloxacina nelle donne che ricorrono a interruzione volontaria di gravidanza.

AIM: To verify the efficacy of prulifloxacin in prevention of infective morbidity in women undergoing first trimester induced abortion. The aim of the study was to observe the incidence of infection during four weeks following abortion by monitoring the symptoms which require general practitioner prescription or hospitalization. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial carried on by the Research Group for Sexology, Familiar Planning Service of the Department of Microbiological and Gynecological Science, University of Catania from September 2005 to March 2007. The study included 466 women, ranging in age from 14 to 44 years (mean age 26.7), who were randomized in three groups: group A (153 subjects) treated with 600 mg daily of prulifloxacin for 5 days after abortion; group B (155 subjects) treated with 600 mg daily of prulifloxacin for 3 days after abortion; group C (158 subjects) treated with 600 mg daily of prulifloxacin one day before and 2 days after abortion. RESULTS: Two hundred sixteen were nulliparous (47%), 96 were pluriparous (38.5%). Thirty-two nulliparous (15%) were under eighteen. Among pluriparous, 96 (38.5%) have had previous surgery delivery and 154 (61.5%) spontaneous delivery; moreover, 56 women have had previous surgical interruption during the first-trimester of pregnancy. Surgical abortion was practiced in a range of gestational age between 6th and 11th week of amenorrhea (average week 8.2). The percentage of pelvic inflammatory disease symptoms (pain, fever, leucoxantorrhea ) were about 10.5 in group A, 7.1 in group B and 2.5 in group C. Group C protocol was statistically more effective than group A protocol (P<0.05), but not than group B, even if prevalence of adverse events were less. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis before surgical abortion and shortening supplies after abortion is more effective than post abortion treatment alone.

DNA flow cytometry of left and right testes in normospermic patients affected by left varicocele.

To assess whether changes in spermatogenesis are present in men suffering from varicocele who are still normospermic, a comparative flow cytometric analysis of the left and right testicular DNA content was performed on 26 young normospermic males (sperm density > 20 x 10(6)/ml), with varying degrees of asthenospermia. Cell samples were obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Flow cytometric analysis revealed four peaks in the nuclear DNA content: (i) two peaks for haploid cells (1-A), the first composed of highly condensed nuclear cells (1Ac), essentially spermatozoa, and the second of less condensed cells, essentially spermatids (1-Anc): (ii) a third peak of diploid cells (2-D): somatic cells, G1-stage spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes and (iii) a fourth peak of tetraploid cells, essentially postleptotene primary spermatocytes and G2-M-stage spermatogonia (4-T). Flow cytometry showed the left testis to have a lower percentage of haploid cells than the right (mean 48.4 +/- 17.9 versus 57 +/- 15.4%, P < 0.05). Significantly fewer condensed cells were found on the left side than on the right (respectively 19.7 +/- 11.2 versus 31.5 +/- 13.5%, P < 0.004). The diploid cell percentage was significantly higher in the left testis than in the right (37.0 +/- 18.5 versus 25.5 +/- 9.6, P < 0.003). No statistically significant differences were found in respect of percentages of either non-condensed and tetraploid cells (respectively 26.6 +/- 14.8 and 11.3 +/- 5.6 on the left and 25.9 +/- 10.3 and 12.4 +/- 6.2 on the right). Flow cytometric analysis of cadaver biopsy tissue showed no statistically significant difference between left and right testicles in respect of the percentages of haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells. The reduced percentage of haploid cells and the increase in diploid cells observed in the left testis of our subjects indicate that the testicular function is impaired to a greater extent in the testis ipsilateral to varicocele than in the contralateral testicle.

[A case of severe bronchospasm and laryngospasm after atracurium administration]. / Un caso di grave broncospasmo e laringospasmo dopo somministrazione di atracurium.

We present a case of severe intraoperative bronchospasm and laryngospasm, that happened after the administration of atracurium 0.5 mg/kg-1; this episode was very difficult to manage, in spite of a prompt bronchodilative treatment. This episode of bronchospasm happened again after extubation and it was so severe that it was necessary to intubate the patient quickly again. We administered bronchodilatative drugs again, and after half an hour it was possible to extubate the patient and to send him to the ward. He had no problems in the postoperative period. We carried on some investigations to evaluate the nature of this reaction: we measured the level of IgE, C3 and C4 complement factor during operation (one sample), in the first and second postoperative days. Moreover we did an intradermal test for all the drugs used during the operation. We concluded that it was an anaphylactoid reaction, sustained by atracurium.

[Gorlin-Goltz syndrome. Observation of a case]. / Sindrome di Gorlin-Goltz. Osservazione di un caso.

A young girl (16 years old) came to our attention because she needed dental surgery for multiple cysts; she was affected by Gorlin-Goltz syndrome and by a partial deficit of clotting factor V. This syndrome is characterized by many alterations, some of which can interfere with a normal conduct of anesthesia, especially at intubation (prognathism, kyphoscoliosis, incomplete segmentation of cervical-thoracic vertebrae). Moreover this patient was heterozygote for factor V (it was reduced to 48%), so that she had some clotting alteration. We present therefore this case and the treatment undertaken.

Posttraumatic epidural hygroma with associated subdural spinal fluid collection. Case report.

We report a head-injured patient in whom CT scan revealed an extracerebral hypodense fluid collection separated into two compartments by a membrane, which was probably the torn dura mater. We briefly discuss the probable pathogenetic mechanism.