Effect of alendronate treatment on the osteoclastogenic potential of bone marrow cells in mice

The expression of cytokeratins (CK), involucrin, vimentin, CD34, and alpha-smooth-muscle actin was studied in fetal and adult hair follicles. The first stage of the developing hair follicle is characterized by palisaded, elongated epithelial cells budding from the epidermal basal layer. These cells express CK5/6, CK14, CK17, CK19, and vimentin. During the following weeks of gestation, different structures in the developing hair follicle can be identified and characterized. The matrical cells display only CK19. The keratinocytes of the outer root sheath express CK5/6, CK14, CK17, CK19, and involucrin; those of the inner root sheath, CK4, CK18, and involucrin; those of the isthmus, the same profile as the ORS. In the infundibulum, the basal-layer keratinocytes express CK5/6, CK14, CK17, and CK19, whereas in the suprabasal layers CK1, CK4, CK10, CK14, and CK17 are seen. The adult hair follicle in anagen fails to express CK19 in the matrical cells and isthmus and both CK17 and CK19 in the infundibulum. These profiles of intermediate filaments and other markers appear to be potentially useful in categorizing neoplasms with apparent follicular differentiation.     

Out of the earthquake. Coping with cataclysmic change

Diagnosis of developmental speech and language disorders in accordance with the ICD-10 is to be based on the psychometric assessment of speech and language performance. In the present study the clinical validity of the Heidelberger Sprachentwicklungstest (HSET) for diagnosing expressive language disorders was assessed by comparing HSET subtest results for 92 children aged 4 to 10 years who had various speech and language disorders with the children's scores on another language test, a cognitive test and clinical findings. The HSET scores differed considerably from the clinical ratings of the severity of the language disturbance. The correlations between the HSET scores and the score on the other language test was also low. Although the correlations of the HSET scores with the performance IQ was low, the correlations with the verbal IQ were high. The implications of these findings for the use of the HSET in diagnosing children with language impairments are discussed.     

Enantioselective antiplatelet actions of nipecotamides

This investigation retrospectively examined changes in marital satisfaction following stroke. The relationship between such changes and other pertinent factors were also examined, including severity of aphasia, knowledge of aphasia, number of months after stroke, and length of the marriage. The subjects were 40 spouses of patients with aphasia grouped according to severity of the aphasia (mild, moderate, severe). Spouses completed two different measures of marital satisfaction--the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS) and the Marital Comparison Level Index (MCLI). These measures were completed in both a prestroke (retrospective reporting) and a poststroke format to allow for change to be assessed. In addition, a Knowledge of Aphasia questionnaire was completed by the normal spouses to evaluate their understanding of the disorder of aphasia. There was a significant difference between prestroke and poststroke scores on both the MSS and the MCLI, indicating a lower level of satisfaction following the stroke. The amount of change between prestroke and poststroke MSS and MCLI scores was not related to either number of months poststroke or number of years married. Although there was no relationship between changes in prestroke and poststroke scores on the MCLI and Knowledge of Aphasia scores, there was a significant correlation between changes in these scores on the MSS and Knowledge of Aphasia scores. Hence, the more knowledge spouses had regarding aphasia, the less the negative impact the stroke had on marital satisfaction, as measured by the MSS. Results are discussed in terms of the interdisciplinary treatment needs of aphasic patients and the implications for future investigations.     

Vasodilation with adenosine or sodium nitroprusside after coronary artery bypass surgery: a comparative study on myocardial blood flow and metabolism

The effects of adenosine and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on central hemodynamics and myocardial blood flow and metabolism were investigated postoperatively after elective coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery in ten sedated and mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. During three consecutive 15-min periods, SNP (0.8 +/- 0.1 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1), adenosine (88.9 +/- 13.3 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1), and then again SNP (0.7 +/- 0.1 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) were infused to control postoperative hypertension at a mean arterial pressure of approximately 80 mm Hg. Systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and global (coronary sinus flow, CSF) as well as regional (great cardiac vein flow, GCVF) myocardial blood flow and metabolic variables were measured. During adenosine infusion, in comparison to SNP, heart rate was unchanged, stroke volume index and cardiac index increased (24% and 32%, respectively), and the systemic vascular resistance index decreased (-26%). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (24%) as well as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (27%) and central venous pressure (18%) were higher with adenosine compared to SNP. Adenosine also increased CSF and GCVF (108% and 103%, respectively) without altering the CSF/GCVF flow ratio compared to SNP. Furthermore, adenosine increased the coronary oxygen content (51%) and decreased the arterio-great cardiac vein oxygen content difference (-48%) without changing regional myocardial oxygen consumption, indicating a more pronounced hyperkinetic myocardial circulation compared to SNP. In addition, adenosine infusion decreased arterial PO2 (-11%) and increased the intrapulmonary shunt fraction (57%). The PR interval time of the electrocardiogram was prolonged (12%) and the ST segment was more depressed during adenosine infusion compared to SNP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Results of benchmark calculations based on OLHF-1 test

The subject of this paper is to compare the results of the different calculations performed by the benchmark participants in the framework of the OECD Lower Head Failure (OLHF) program. The benchmark consists in the finite element (FE) calculation or in analytical calculations of the mechanical behavior of the OLHF-1 experiment. Seven participants from six countries and seven companies or organizations (AVN, VTT, GRS, UJV, SNL, IPSN and CEA) have performed the benchmark.The OLHF experiment program extends the NRC-sponsored SNL LHF program (NUREG/CR-5582) completed in 1998: these experiments where intended to simulate the thermal/mechanical loads to a 1/4.85-scale model of a reactor pressure vessel. The pressure vessel material (SA533B1 steel) used in these experiments is prototypic of reactor PWR vessel material and has been well characterized by material property testing as part of this program. The OLHF tests advance the results of the previous testing program by examining the effects of large temperature differences across the vessel wall. Large temperature differences in excess of 150–400 K are more prototypic of accident conditions.Most of the participants performed 2-D axisymmetric analyses and doesn’t study the crack opening. The global mechanical behaviour of OLHF-1 experiment is well represented but prediction of the maximum vertical displacement is not in good agreement with the experimental value. Failure time and location are in quite good agreement with experimental results but large discrepancies are observed on the mode of failure: creep or plasticity. To improve predictions, more investigation and work is needed on the choice of the failure criteria and failure mode.     

An approach for treating the hepatobiliary disease of cystic fibrosis by somatic gene transfer

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease of epithelial cell ion transport that is associated with pathology in multiple organ systems, including lung, pancreas, and liver. As treatment of the pulmonary manifestations of CF has improved, management of CF liver disease has become increasingly important in adult patients. This report describes an approach for treating CF liver disease by somatic gene transfer. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry analysis of rat liver sections indicated that the endogenous CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene is primarily expressed in the intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells. To specifically target recombinant genes to the biliary epithelium in vivo, recombinant adenoviruses expressing lacZ or human CFTR were infused retrograde into the biliary tract through the common bile duct. Conditions were established for achieving recombinant gene expression in virtually all cells of the intrahepatic bile ducts in vivo. Expression persisted in the smaller bile ducts for the duration of the experiment, which was 21 days. These studies suggest that it may be feasible to prevent CF liver disease by genetically reconstituting CFTR expression in the biliary tract, using an approach that is clinically feasible.     

Enhancing effect of natural killer cell stimulatory factor (NKSF/interleukin-12) on cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor-derived and virus-infected cells

Natural killer cell stimulatory factor (NKSF) or interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine with pleiomorphic effects on T and NK cells, including induction of lymphokine production, mitogenesis, and enhancement of spontaneous cytotoxic activity. Similarly to IL-2, NKSF/IL-12 enhances NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity within a few hours and independently from induced proliferation. This effect is independent from other induced cytokines, because it is not prevented by antibodies neutralizing interferon (IFN)-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IL-2 or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and, unlike the induction of IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood lymphocytes, it does not require HLA class II-positive accessory cells. Enhanced cytotoxicity is accompanied by morphologic changes in NK cells, including a significant increase in the number of cytoplasmic granules. In addition to the previously described ability to enhance the cytotoxic activity of NK cells against tumor-derived target cells, NKSF/IL-12 is also a potent stimulator of cytotoxicity against virus-infected cells, either fibroblasts acutely infected with herpes viruses or T cell lines chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1. NK cell-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity or anti-CD16 antibody-redirected lysis is not significantly enhanced by NKSF/IL-12. However, the ability of resting peripheral blood T cells to mediate anti-CD3 antibody-redirected lysis is enhanced by 18-h incubation with NKSF/IL-12, indicating that this lymphokine can modulate the cytotoxic capability of both NK and T cells.