Radioimmunoconjugates in the detection of infection and inflammation

Various nuclear medicine techniques are widely used to image foci of infection and inflammation. Among the relatively new radiopharmaceuticals for this purpose are radioimmunoconjugates such as labeled murine monoclonal antigranulocyte antibodies and labeled human polyclonal nonspecific immunoglobulin G. This article reviews some background information, mechanism of action, side effects, biodistribution, kinetics, results of clinical studies, and dosimetry of several radioimmunoconjugates both of murine monoclonal and human polyclonal origin. The efficacy of these agents has been demonstrated in a variety of clinical conditions. Radiolabeled immunoconjugates may emerge as convenient alternatives to the present technique of choice: in vitro blood cell labeling techniques with their inherent problems and risks.     

Motivation for treatment: A review with special emphasis on alcoholism.

Provides an integrative review of research relating motivational variables and interventions to treatment entry, compliance, and outcome, emphasizing alcoholism and other addictive behaviors. Disadvantages of a trait model of motivation and perceptions of motivation, including agreement, self-label, desire for help, distress, and compliance/dependence, are discussed. Empirical evidence is considered regarding motivational interventions, including advice, feedback, goal setting, role playing, modeling, contingencies, continuity of care, voluntary choice, and modification of behavior attractiveness. Nonspecific aspects of motivation are addressed, including client characteristics (distress, self-esteem, locus of control, severity, conceptual level), environmental variables, and therapist characteristics (hostility, expectancy, empathy). A dynamic conceptualization of treatment motivation is proposed as an alternative to a trait model. (7 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surveillance of developmental disabilities with an emphasis on special studies

The developing central nervous system seems to be particularly vulnerable to chemical insults. A model for developmental disabilities surveillance is presented that provides a reasonable framework for monitoring the prevalence of various developmental abnormalities in human populations. Effective monitoring will not only increase the likelihood of detecting the adverse effects of new physical or chemical agents in the environment but will provide a readily available case series for specially directed case-control studies. A specific example is provided of a large case-control study of cerebral palsy and intrapartum magnesium exposure among very low birth weight children, which is being conducted within the framework of a developmental disabilities surveillance program.     

Nicotine dependence and health care issues with special emphasis on mental health

The diet and nutritional status dominate a tolerance to environmental xenobiotics. In this study, the cytotoxic action of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), one of the dietary carcinogens, was investigated using primary cultured hepatocytes from rats fed a high-fat (23% corn oil) or high-protein (50% casein) diet for three weeks. Both chemicals showed strong cytotoxicity to hepatocytes, which was judged by measurement with the MTT-test and lactate dehydrogenase leakage test. A dietary effect on cytotoxicity was observed; hepatocytes from rats fed the high-protein diet were more susceptible to cytotoxicity than the cells from rats fed a standard diet. On the other hand, ureogenesis, as a cellular function of hepatocytes, was markedly decreased in the cells from rats fed the high-fat diet. These activities were affected in the CCl4-treated cells but not in the Trp-P-1-treated cells. The same trend of both diet and chemical effects was observed in gluconeogenesis from fructose. We conclude that the hepatocytes from rats fed a high-protein diet have high susceptibility to the cytotoxicity of CCl4 and Trp-P-1, but cytotoxicity was not related to the reduction of cellular functions.     

Neural tube and craniofacial defects with special emphasis on folate pathway genes

Neural tube and orofacial defects are common congenital malformations in humans. While etiologically heterogeneous, they are for the most part multifactorial in their pathogenesis, having both genetic and environmental components in their development. In recent years, there has been a great deal of epidemiologic evidence demonstrating that women who received multivitamins containing folic acid periconceptionally had significantly reduced occurrence and recurrence risks for producing infants with such malformations. This risk reduction is not observed in all populations, further suggestive of a genetic regulation of this phenomenon. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of folic acid are not well-understood. In this article, we review the relevant epidemiologic data on both neural tube defects and orofacial malformations, the fundamental embryological processes involved in closing the neural tube, and the development of the craniofacies, and propose a working hypothesis for susceptibility to these malformations. This hypothesis is based on the interworkings of cellular folate transport, focusing on the key elements involved in potocytosis. We propose that infants with mutations in the folate receptor alpha gene might be at increased risk for congenital anomalies due to a reduced binding affinity for 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the physiologic form of folic acid. Various experimental approaches to test the working hypothesis are considered.     

Toxicokinetics and biochemistry of cadmium with special emphasis on the role of metallothionein

Cadmium is a toxic metal with extremely long biological half-time of 15-20 years in humans. It has for decades been known that cadmium exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects, among which kidney dysfunction, lung diseases, disturbed calcium metabolism and bone effects are most prominent. Following long term exposure the kidney is the critical organ. Cadmium and its compounds give rise to lung cancer after inhalation and have been classified as human carcinogens. Metallothionein (MT) is a low-molecular -weight protein, 6500Da with high cysteine content and high metal affinity, which plays a major role in the kinetics and metabolism of cadmium. The balance between CdMT and non-bound Cd in renal tissue has been shown to be of crucial importance for expression of toxicity. The most well studied metallothioneins are metallothioneins I and II with their isoforms which are expressed in almost all mammalian tissues. Metallothionein III is expressed in brain and is rich in zinc. Since the blood-brain barrier keeps Cd outside the CNS, reported neurotoxic effects of Cd during development are likely to be secondary to an interference of Cd with Zn-metabolism and not a direct effect of Cd on brain cells. It is therefore of importance to investigate whether neurotoxicity induced by cadmium is related to mechanisms involving MT III in brain.     

PCR: basics and new developments

Since its discovery 10 years ago PCR has been introduced for a variety of practical applications. PCR has opened new dimensions particularly in laboratory diagnostics because of its sensitivity, accuracy and speed. In spite of the availability of user friendly kits, basic knowledge is of great importance for the user especially if PCR has to be optimized for special needs or when specific problems arise. The general mechanism of the reaction and the significance of the reaction components and the PCR conditions are discussed initially. Several recent developments in PCR (new enzymes, RNA-PCR, improvements of the specificity, prevention of contamination and development of new equipment) that are critical for the user are shortly introduced. Finally, "long PCR" is discussed in order to demonstrate that even 10 years after the invention of PCR significant new breakthroughs in the PCR technology are still possible.     

Gastrointestinal lymphomas: an overview with emphasis on new findings and diagnostic problems

The first section of this article summarizes the salient clinicopathologic features of the more common types of primary gastrointestinal lymphomas, the recent explosion of information on the low grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and new findings on multiple lymphomatous polyposis and ulcerative jejunitis. The second section discusses the practical problems that may be encountered in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphomas, including diagnosis of large cell malignancies, distinction between lymphoma and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, classification of diffuse small B-cell lymphomas (including the potential pitfall of mistaking Burkitt's lymphoma for small B-cell lymphoma), recognition of large cell transformation in low-grade B-cell MALT lymphoma, assessment of gastric biopsies from MALT lymphoma patients after anti-Helicobacter therapy, and assessment of nodal or splenic involvement in low-grade MALT lymphoma.     

Tumor suppressor genes with special emphasis on the APC tumor suppressor gene

Tumor suppressor genes play a central role in the genesis and progression of human cancers. Genetic alterations of tumor suppressor genes have been found in a variety of hereditary and nonhereditary cancers. Persons that carry a hereditary mutation in tumor suppressor genes are strongly predisposed to one or more kinds of cancer. This review brings current developments in the field of tumor suppressor genes. Special emphasis is dedicated to recently discovered tumor suppressor gene APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) whose mutations are responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The known mutations of the APC gene are described. The role of the APC gene in tumor development, as well as the possibility for presymptomatic genetic testing is also discussed in the paper.     

Molecular phylogeny of rodents, with special emphasis on murids: evidence from nuclear gene LCAT

Phylogenetic relationships among 19 extant species of rodents, with special emphasis on rats, mice, and allied Muroidea, were studied using sequences of the nuclear protein-coding gene LCAT (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase), an enzyme of cholesterol metabolism. Analysis of 705 base pairs from the exonic regions of LCAT confirmed known groupings in and around Muroidea. Strong support was found for the families Sciuridae (squirrel and marmot) and Gliridae (dormice) and for suprafamilial taxa Muroidea and Caviomorpha (guinea pig and allies). Within Muroidea, the first branching leads to the fossorial mole rats Spalacinae and bamboo rats Rhizomyinae. The other Muroidea appear as a polytomy from which are issued Gerbillinae (gerbils), Murinae (rats and mice), Sigmodontinae (New World cricetids), Cricetinae (hamsters), and Arvicolinae (voles). Evidence from LCAT sequences agrees with that from a number of previous molecular and morphological studies, both concerning branching orders inside Muroidea and the bush-like radiation of rodent suprafamilial taxa (caviomorphs, sciurids, glirids, muroids), thus suggesting that this nuclear gene is an appropriate candidate for addressing questions of rodents relationships.     

Microalloyed,vacuum degassed high-strength steels with special emphasis on IF steels

In comparison with other high-strength concepts, high-strength IF steel has a particularly high forming capacity with increased strength, while the sheet thickness reduction through forming is, on the whole, smallest with high-strength IF steel. Solid-solution hardening through Si, Mn and P is particularly suitable as a mechanism for increasing strength, as this leads to comparatively low formability losses with increased strength values. An additional increase in strength is possible using the bake-hardening effect. This can be achieved with an incomplete C and N binding through Ti and/or Nb, or through stoichiometric microalloying with V. The effect is basically caused by the relatively low thermodynamic stability of VC. V-alloyed, vacuum degassed steel combines in this way good forming behaviour with an increase in strength through bake-hardening. Through an increasing segregation of P at grain boundaries, solid solution hardening with this element can lead to unfavourable embrittlement in higher strength IF steel and to intercrystalline fracture. B-addition to the amount of 0.002% (mass content) greatly reduces the tendency to become brittle without leading to any remarkable losses with regard to formability. Examinations concerning the precipitation behaviour of Ti-IF steel with P show that a formation of iron titanium phosphate (FeTiP) in the hot strip only occurs where there is an excess of Ti and high coiling temperatures are used. For a P-alloyed IF steel with stoichlometrical Ti-content no precipitation of FeTiP takes place in hot band, nor is the thermal activation in continuous annealing simulation sufficient to achieve a transformation of existing Ti-precipitates into FeTiP, which might occur according to literature.     

The integrated processes of hard tissue regeneration with special emphasis on fracture healing

When bone is fractured, a sequence of dynamic events ensue to restore form and therefore function. Many key biologic cell regulators for these events have been identified, expressed through recombinant technology, and their roles posited. Moreover, the availability of recombinantly engineered molecules, such as the bone morphogenetic proteins with their potential to benefit patient care, has ushered in an important era in clinical dentistry that may eliminate either autografting or bank bone allografts. Therefore, in this review article, we have highlighted some of the exciting biologic regulators relevant to bone fracture healing and outlined the dynamic elements in this process.     

Expression of P-glycoprotein in high grade osteosarcomas with special emphasis on chondroblastic subtype

The development of chemoresistance is one of the major clinical problems in the therapy of malignant bone tumors in childhood. The expression of membrane-bound P-glycoprotein turned out to be an essential factor in the evidence of resistant tumor cells. To investigate the significance of multidrug resistance in the prognosis of highly malignant osteosarcomas, the immunohistologic expression of P-glycoprotein was investigated in the tumor tissue of 52 patients under special consideration of the histologic subtype. The data were compared with the histologic regression grade in the resection specimen and correlated with clinical data. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and, additionally, fresh frozen material taken from the primary biopsy were stained using monoclonal antibody JSB1. 29 (55%) of the tumors investigated were P-glycoprotein positive. Considering the response to chemotherapy, no conclusion could be drawn regarding P-glycoprotein expression, regression grade in the resection specimens, and the clinical follow-up. P-glycoprotein was detected in only 52% of the non-responders. A positive reaction was also evidenced in 59% of the patients with high chemosensitivity. A comparison of the histologic subtypes yielded a significant result in the chondroblastic osteosarcomas. 11 of 12 cases showed a strong expression of P-glycoprotein. Most of the cases were non-responders, and using Kaplan-Meier live tables, an unfavorable clinical outcome could be demonstrated. Possibly, chondroblastic tumors have a special position among osteosarcomas because of their differentiation.     

Nutrient flows in agriculture in The Netherlands with special emphasis on pig production

Annual nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) flows in agriculture in The Netherlands were identified and quantified in 1990, with special emphasis on pig production. Also, the effects that various management strategies in pig production have on NPK emission in 1990 were compared using a static deterministic simulation model. Ammonia emission from pig production in 1990 (60.9 Gg N) exceeded the defined target for the year 2000 (12.7 Gg N). Measures that affect volatilization of ammonia directly (i.e., introduction of low-emission stables, manure storage facilities, or manure application techniques) reduced ammonia emission most effectively. These measures, however, should be combined with a reduction in application of artificial N fertilizer to avoid an increase in N losses through leaching, run-off, or denitrification. Targets for ammonia emission in the year 2010 require a reduction in the pig population of 24 to 62%, in addition to implications of measures described in this article. National NPK losses in 1990 through leaching, run-off, or denitrification, predicted at 223.5 kg/ha for N, 32.7 kg/ha for P, and 67 kg/ha for K, exceeded government targets for the year 2010 (185 kg N/ha; 8.7 kg P/ha; norm not set for K). Reducing application of artificial NPK fertilizer reduced national NPK losses most effectively. For P, use of phytase and feeding pigs in accordance with their P requirements is required, in addition to limited use of artificial P fertilizer to meet targets for the year 2010. Hence, from an environmental point of view, pig production in The Netherlands is limited primarily by ammonia emission targets for the year 2010.