Effect of the multidrug inhibitor GG918 on drug sensitivity of human leukemic cells

The drug GG918 has been specifically developed for overcoming MDR phenotype and is now in use in clinical trials. In this study, the effects of GG918 on leukemic cell were investigated using a 3 day MTT assay. Results showed that, in a highly resistant P-gp(+) leukemic cell line, 0.1 microM of GG918 gives rise to a 40-fold sensitization to daunorubicin (DNR) (residual resistance: 2.1), a 57-fold sensitization to mitoxantrone (residual resistance: 1.5), and a 3.3-fold sensitization to idarubicin (residual resistance: 2.9). When human AB serum was added to the incubation medium, 1 microM of GG918 was needed to observe the full P-gp modulation potency described above. The effect of 1 microM of GG918 was tested on 27 samples of poor prognosis acute leukemia (25 AML, two ALL). DNR sensitization (using the MTT assay) and modulation of rhodamine 123 uptake were monitored and used as criteria for comparing the in vitro modulation potency of this new compound to the potency of 10 microM of verapamil, which was used as reference. A good correlation (r = 0.8, P = 0.001) was observed between the results of the two tests. Eleven out of the 26 cases tested were MDR1(+) (42%), and showed a higher IC50 for DNR than the negative cases (861 +/- 1284 nM vs 187 +/- 246 nM, P = 0.05). GG918 was able to modulate the in vitro resistance to DNR in eight cases (seven MDR1(+), no MDR1(-), one non-tested). Verapamil did not increase DNR toxicity in four of these eight cases, but was more efficient in one other MDR1(+) case. In conclusion, the DNR sensitivity of the majority of the fresh AML samples expressing P-gp could be modulated in vitro by 1 microM of GG918.     

Revision of the Halstead Category Test.

The full Category Test of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery appears to be too lengthy. A method of abbreviating this test that utilized an understanding of its characteristics was implemented. This revision shortened the scales and reorganized Subtests 5 and 6 into two new scales using separate principles. A comparison of this revised Category test with the full Category Test demonstrated it to be as accurate as the full test in predicting the presence or absence of brain damage in our subjects. The functions being measured were also more clearly discerned. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mating disruption of pea mothCydia nigricana F. (lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by a repellent blend of sex pheromone and attraction inhibitors

Synthetic sex pheromone of the pea mothCydia nigricana, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetate (E8,E10–12: Ac), was applied in polyethylene dispensers at a rate of 30 g/ha and 600 dispensers/ha in a 0.6-ha pea field. The release rate ofE8,E10–12: Ac was 140 mg/ha/day after six days, and 82 mg/ha/day after 20 days. Aerial concentrations ofE8,E10–12: Ac, as measured by a portable EAG apparatus, ranged from 2 ± 2 to 7 ± 3 ng/m³. The antennal signal was high and rather constant within pea canopy, but was lower and fluctuated strongly above canopy. Initially, >99% isomerically pureE8,E10–12: Ac was released, and male moths were attracted to dispensers. After nine days, isomeric blend composition had equilibrated to approx. 92%E8,E10–12: Ac and 8% of the inhibitory isomersE,Z-,Z,E-, andZ8,Z10–12: Ac. Males were then repelled from the pheromone-permeated field. Traps baited with 100 µgE8,E10–12: Ac caught 258 ± 133C. nigricana males/trap in the control, but no males at all in the disruption field.     

Expressive aprosodia following stroke to the right basal ganglia: A case report.

Presented here is a case report of a 16-yr-old adolescent who, after experiencing an embolic stroke to subcortical structures of the right hemisphere, evidenced motor aprosodia. The patient was administered a test of receptive emotional prosody. In addition, the patient was asked to state a series of stimulus sentences to determine if she was able to spontaneously convey emotions (happy, sad, mad) appropriately and was asked to repeat a series of stimulus sentences to determine if she could convey the same emotions as the speaker. She demonstrated aprosodic-agestural speech, aprosodic repetition, and good prosodic comprehension. This case report supports the notion of right-hemisphere organization of the emotional aspects of language and the existence of subcortical aprosodias analogous to subcortical aphasias. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivated sensitivity to preference-inconsistent information.

If preference-inconsistent information initiates more effortful cognitive analysis than does preference-consistent information, then people should be more sensitive processors of information they do not want to believe than of information they do want to believe. Three studies supported this prediction. Study 1 found that inferences drawn from favorable interpersonal feedback revealed a correspondence bias, whereas inferences drawn from unfavorable feedback were sensitive to situational constraint. Study 2 showed this sensitivity to the quality of unfavorable feedback to disappear under cognitive load. Study 3 showed that evaluations of the accuracy of favorable medical diagnoses were insensitive to the probability of alternative explanation, whereas evaluations of unfavorable diagnoses were sensitive to probability information. The importance of adaptive considerations in theories of motivated reasoning is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An experimental system for evaluation of well-defined catalysts on nonporous electrodes in realistic DMFC environment

This paper reports on an experimental setup wich enables us to investigate planar model catalysts in an environment closely resembling the environment found in an actual direct methanol fuel cell. The working electrodes were nano-structured catalyst particles immobilised on planar supports, reducing many of the commonly present non-catalyst related effects in conventional porous electrodes. Colloidal lithography was used for nano-structuring the samples. Nafion was used as electrolyte. Results are presented for the oxidation of methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid and carbon monoxide at temperatures between 30 and 70 ° C on Pt particles supported on glassy carbon disks.     

Immunobiosensor determination of β-agonists in urine using integrated immunofiltration clean-up

A fast immunobiosensor assay for screening of β‐agonists in urine, using integrated immunofiltration clean‐up with 30 kDa cutoff centrifugal filter, was developed. The same antibody aliquot was used for clean‐up and biosensor analysis, and no organic solvent was needed. Matrix interference from urine was efficiently reduced. Two antibodies with different cross‐reactivities were compared. Although both antibodies were able to detect clenbuterol (CBL) below 1 ng mL^?1, a polyclonal antibody directed against salbutamol was chosen because of its ability to recover several β‐agonists. The decision limit (CCα) of the final assay was 0.29 ng mL^?1, and an α‐error of 1% gave a β‐error of <1% for twenty reference bovine samples spiked with 1 ng mL^?1 CBL.     

In the presence of your absence: The treatment of older families with a cancer patient.

Describes the psychotherapeutic strategies used in treating older couples in which one member has cancer. Structural family therapy was the primary treatment modality. The therapeutic issues reviewed are cancer as a special crisis in the developmental life cycle, styles of coping, aging, and countertransference around aging and death. Case illustrations are presented to exemplify the problems of illness in old age, inflexible response to stress, and mutual withdrawal. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)