Abdominal radical trachelectomy: a new surgical technique for the conservative management of cervical carcinoma

Traditionally radical hysterectomy has formed the mainstay of treatment for early stage cervical carcinoma. More recently radical trachelectomy and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy have been introduced to allow preservation of fertility. We present a new approach to fertility-sparing surgery, namely abdominal radical trachelectomy. The technique is similar to a standard radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. In our technique the ovarian vessels are not ligated and, following lymphadenectomy and skeletonisation of the uterine arteries, the cervix, parametrium and vaginal cuff are excised. The residuum of the cervix is then sutured to the vagina and the uterine ateries re-anastomosed.     

Bis-cationic heteroaromatics as macrofilaricides: synthesis of bis-amidine and bis-guanylhydrazone derivatives of substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A series of guanylhydrazone, amidine, and hydrazone derivatives of 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine have been prepared and evaluated for macrofilarial activity against Acanthocheilonema viteae and Brugia pahangi in jirds. Compounds with 4',6-bis-substitution by cyclic guanylhydrazone groups show activity. 4',6-Bis-amidines show some activity but are more toxic; 4'- or 6-monosubstituted compounds are inactive. 2,6-Bis-substituted compounds lacking the phenyl ring are inactive. 4',6-Bis-substituted compounds having additional double bonds inserted between the heterocyclic ring and the phenyl ring or between the substituent and the ring system show reduced activity.     

Facing death in the fly: genetic analysis of apoptosis in Drosophila

Apoptosis, a gene-directed form of cell death, occurs normally during development and plays a major role in many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Molecular genetic studies in Drosophila have revealed the existence of three novel apoptotic activators, reaper, head involution defective and grim. Additionally, Drosophila homologs of evolutionarily conserved IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins) and CED-3/ICE-like proteases have been identified and characterized. Through the combined use of genetic, molecular, biochemical and cell biological techniques in Drosophila it should now be possible to elucidate the precise mechanism by which apoptosis occurs, and how the death program is activated in response to many distinct death-inducing signals.     

Influence of dose reduction recommendations on changes in chest radiography techniques

A previous dosimetric study on chest radiography identified ways to reduce patient entrance surface dose (ESD). This present study was designed to monitor changes that had occurred in the use of applied potential and film-screen sensitivity, after a series of recommendations were issued. The study falls into two parts: (1) an assessment of the impact of the recommendations and (2) what factors were responsible for change. Where changes had occurred, exposure factors were collected for 30 patients per tube and the mean ESD was calculated for each tube. Intercomparison (r = 0.93, p < 0.001) was made between calculated and measured (TLDs) values of mean ESD for 10 X-ray units, to ensure that the calculated values provided accurate estimates of the new mean ESDs. 89% of units previously monitored for patient ESD now use average applied potentials greater than 90 kVp and 51% are using film-screen sensitivities of 400. The mean ESD has been reduced on average by 47%, from 0.15 mGy to 0.08 mGy. It has been estimated that the annual collective dose from diagnostic radiology procedures in 30 hospitals in the West Midlands has been reduced by a value in excess of 40 man Sv. Reasons for change could be attributed to some of the following factors: (a) a knowledge of dose levels in comparison with other centres; (b) personal contact with departments; (c) feedback in terms of results and dose savings and (d) positive encouragement to make changes.     

Specific extreme behaviors of postinstitutionalized Russian adoptees.

Behavior problems reported by parents on the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) were studied in 316 children adopted from social-emotionally depriving Russian institutions as a function of age at adoption (18-month cutoff), age at assessment (6–11 and 12–18 years), and gender. Children adopted after 18 months had higher problem scores predominately when assessed at 12–18 years. Although most children had no behavior problems, 59.0% of later adoptees assessed in adolescence had at least 1 subscale score and 48.7% had 2 or more subscale scores in the clinical/borderline range. A factor analysis of items that significantly related to age at adoption for older children revealed 1 broad factor, encompassing different antisocial behaviors, social difficulties, and withdrawal. These results may suggest a somewhat broader deficiency produced by orphanage experience beyond the first 18 months of life that underlies a range of behavioral problems displayed later. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)