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Introduction: We report a rare, classic case of isolated angioedema of the bowel due to C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency. It is a rare presentation and very few cases have been reported worldwide. Angioedema has been classified into three categories.Case Presentation: A 66-year-old Caucasian man presented with a ten-month history of episodic severe cramping abdominal pain, associated with loose stools. A colonoscopy performed during an acute attack revealed nonspecific colitis. Computed tomography of the abdomen performed at the same time showed a thickened small bowel and ascending colon with a moderate amount of free fluid in the abdomen. Levels of C4 (< 8 mg/dL; reference range 15 to 50 mg/dL), CH50 (< 10 U/mL; reference range 29 to 45 U/ml) and C1 inhibitor (< 4 mg/dL; reference range 14 to 30 mg/dL) were all low, supporting a diagnosis of acquired angioedema with isolated bowel involvement. Our patient's symptoms improved with antihistamine and supportive treatment.Conclusion: In addition to a detailed comprehensive medical history, laboratory data and imaging studies are required to confirm a diagnosis of angioedema due to C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil recruitment may initiate cell apoptosis in ischemic tissues. We have recently shown that enterocyte apoptosis is increased following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of hyperoxia on E-selectin expression, neutrophil recruitment and enterocyte apoptosis following intestinal IR in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: (1) sham rats underwent laparotomy without vascular occlusion and were ventilated with air (Sham) (2) IR rats underwent occlusion of both the superior mesenteric artery and portal vein for 30 min and were ventilated with air (IR), and (3) IR-O2 rats underwent IR and were ventilated with 100% started 10 min before reperfusion and continued for 6 h (IR-O2). Intestinal structural changes were determined 24 h following IR. Immunohistochemistry for E-selectin (using E-selectin cleaved concentrated polyclonal antibody) was performed to identify E-selectin immunoreactivity localized to the endothelium of venules. The recruitment of neutrophils was calculated per 100 venules. Immunohistochemistry for Caspase-3 was performed for identification of apoptotic cells. Non-parametric one-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis with p less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. A significant increase in E-selectin expression in the jejunum (6.1 ± 2.2 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0 E-selectin positive vessels/100 vessels, p < 0.05) and ileum (12.1 ± 2.7 vs. 3.3 ± 1.2 E-selectin positive vessels/100 vessels, p < 0.05) and a concomitant increase in neutrophil recruitment in the ileum (5.5 ± 1.6 vs. 1.3 ± 0.6 adhered PMN’s per 100 venules) were observed in IR rats compared to sham animals and were accompanied by increased cell apoptosis ( p < 0.05). Treatment with 100% oxygen resulted in a significant attenuation in E-selectin expression in the ileum (2.7 ± 1.1 vs. 12.1 ± 2.7 E-selectin positive vessels/100 vessels, p < 0.05), and neutrophil recruitment in the jejunum (2.5 ± 1.4 vs. 7.7 ± 1.9 adhered PMN’s per 100 venules, p < 0.05) and ileum (1.5 ± 0.7 vs. 5.5 ± 1.6 adhered PMN’s per 100 venules, p < 0.05) compared to IR animals, and was accompanied by decreased cell apoptosis ( p < 0.05). Hyperoxia inhibits enterocyte apoptosis following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Down-regulation of E-selectin expression with subsequent decrease in neutrophil recruitment may be responsible for this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil recruitment may initiate germ cell apoptosis in the ischemic testis. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between germ cell apoptosis and neutrophil recruitment in the contralateral testis following testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two experimental groups: Group A: Sham operated animals; Group B: IR rats underwent 90 min of unilateral testicular ischemia following by 96 h of reperfusion. The rats were sacrificed and testes were harvested. Johnsen's criteria and the number of germinal cell layers were measured to categorize the spermatogenesis. TUNEL assay was used to determine germ cell apoptosis in both the ischemic and contralateral testis. The recruitment of neutrophils was calculated per 100 venules. Expression of E-selectin was determined using immunohistochemical analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test, with P less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Germ cell apoptosis in both the ischemic and the contralateral testis increased significantly after IR. E-selectin expression was significantly greater in ischemic testis from IR rats compared to sham animals. The small increase in E-selectin expression and the concomitant increase in neutrophil recruitment in the contralateral testis of the IR rats (vs. sham animals) were not statistically significant. In conclusion, testicular ischemia causes an increase in germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis. Mechanisms other than neutrophil recruitment apparently initiate this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this thesis, we are concerned with the study of cohomology with local coefficients and applications to (non-orientable) real vector bundles. The thesis consists of an introduction and three separate sections. The introduction gives some motivation for considering cohomology with local coefficients and an outline of the results obtained. The first section deals with a general discussion of such cohomology groups and contains a Künneth Theorem for such groups. The second section is devoted to some computations which are needed later and the final section gives a complete description of the integral cohomology of the spaces BO(n) and BSO(n). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The syndrome is only definitive when resolution occurs with the onset of menses or soon thereafter. Manifestations of PMS include: nervousness, depression, irritability, insomnia, headaches, breast enlargement, abdominal bloating, oedema, gastrointestinal upsets, skin disorders antisocial behavior and psychosexual aberrations. Hormonal changes are probably the main etiological factor and the newest approach to management consists of inhibition of ovulation by means of estradiol implants. Although emotional and psychiatric symptoms are prominent, psychiatric treatment is disappointing. PMS is simply a response to biochemical and metabolic changes following ovulation; distressing PMS represents a psychological maladjustment to these hormonal tides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States Food and Drug Administration and the International Planned Parenthood Federation recommend that women over the age of 40 should utilize forms of contraception other than the pill. This decision was reached as a result of the 1975 clinical papers by Mann and his associates (Mann et al., 1975; Mann & Inman, 1975) and the epidemiological reports of the Royal College of General Practitioners (1977), Mann, Inman & Thorogood (1976) and Vessey, McPherson & Johnson (1977). Several authoritative bodies believed it prudent to suggest that the age limit for oral contraceptive use be lowered to 35, and even to 30 years (Anon, 1977; Planned Parenthood memorandum, 1977). The investigations of Inman & Vessey (1968) point to a precarious rise in mortality figures for women over age 35 on oral contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]