The prognostic significance of sialyl-Tn antigen in women treated with breast carcinoma treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Sialyl-Tn (STn) represents an aberrantly glycosylated mucin epitope that is expressed in breast carcinoma and other adenocarcinomas and is an important factor in the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. The primary aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of STn expression on the prognoses of patients with breast carcinoma. METHODS: A cohort of 207 women diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma who were treated with anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy and were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial were studied. Expression of STn was determined by an immunohistochemical procedure in which the B72.3 monoclonal antibody was used. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional regression survival analyses were used to compare low STn and high STn patients. RESULTS: Forty-eight (23%) of the 207 specimens demonstrated high STn staining (>25% cells were immunoreactive). During a median follow-up of 5 years, high STn patients had worse disease free survival than low STn patients (55% vs. 74%, respectively; P = 0.03). High STn expression was significantly associated with age (P = 0.04) but not with other conventional prognostic markers. In multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model, high STn emerged as an independent prognostic indicator for disease free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.73) and for overall survival (HR, 2.16; 95% CI, 0.95-4.92). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that STn may be a valuable marker for identifying women at high risk of developing recurrent breast carcinoma who may be candidates for trials investigating new therapies in combination with standard adjuvant therapy.     

Interactions between N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists and the discriminative stimulus effects of morphine in rats

NMDA receptor antagonists have previously been reported to alter some pharmacological and behavioral effects of acute and chronic opioid administration. The present study assessed the interactions of NMDA antagonists with the discriminative stimulus properties of morphine. Adult male Long Evans rats were trained to discriminate 3.2 mg/kg of s.c. morphine from water under a two-lever fixed-ratio 10 schedule of food reinforcement. During test sessions. I.p. injections of the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine (0.03-0.2 mg/kg), the competitive antagonists NPC 17742 (1-16 mg/kg), and SDZ 220-581 (0.1-3 mg/kg), the polyamine site antagonist eliprodil (3-17.3 mg/kg), the glycine-site partial agonist (+)-HA-966 (3-56 mg/kg), and the nonselective glutamate antagonist kynurenic acid (30-150 mg/kg) were coadministered with s.c. morphine (1-3.2 mg/kg; interaction tests) or water (generalization tests). In generalization tests, none of the compounds completely substituted for morphine. Concurrent administration of morphine and NMDA antagonists did not greatly alter the discriminative stimulus properties of morphine. Various doses of NPC 17742, SDZ 220-581, or (+)-HA-966 somewhat increased levels of morphine-appropriate lever selection, whereas some attenuation of morphine-lever selection was obtained when morphine was coadministered with eliprodil. These results show that NMDA antagonists have minimal interactions with the discriminative stimulus effects of morphine.     

The Tel Aviv Stroke Registry. 3600 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We undertook to estimate the frequency of various risk factors and the type and severity of stroke in different ethnic groups documented in a large hospital-based stroke registry. Tel Aviv is a metropolis with about 400000 inhabitants and about 600000 daily visitors and workers. The Tel Aviv Medical Center (TAMC) is the only tertiary medical care facility to which all patients with acute stroke are referred. Israel is a country with a heterogeneous population, of which a significant proportion was born abroad. The people differ in their genetic background, as well as in their early environmental conditions, lifelong diet, and other habits. This variety has proved to be a fertile ground for the study of different neurological diseases, including stroke. METHODS: A prospective hospital-based registry using systematic computer coding of data of all consecutive stroke patients admitted to the TAMC has been conducted since May 1988. Different aspects of the amassed data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: From May 1988 until April 1994, 3600 stroke patients were admitted to the TAMC. The mean age was 73.2 years, and 58.2% were males. Cerebral infarctions were diagnosed in 80.9%, primary intracerebral hemorrhages in 8.0%, and transient ischemic attacks in 11.1%. There were 861 patients (24%) who were admitted with recurrent strokes. Past medical history of hypertension was the major risk factor (occurring in 52.2% of the patients), followed by ischemic heart disease (29.7%), diabetes mellitus (25.2%), smoking (17.0%), atrial fibrillation (14.3%), and hyperlipidemia (8.4%). Ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation were more frequent in patients from Europe and America (Ashkenazi group), whereas diabetes mellitus and smoking were more prominent in the other groups. The in-hospital mortality rate was 13.8% and was similar in both ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This registry allows the study of the risk factors, natural history, and clinical manifestations of stroke in different ethnic groups.     

Phase I study of cyclophosphamide (NSC 26271) by 72-hour continuous intravenous infusion

A phase I clinical study of cyclophosphamide administered by 72-hour continuous intravenous infusion was conducted in 13 patients with various types of advanced solid tumors to evaluate the drug's toxicity and efficacy. The initial dosage of 300 mg/m2/day X 3 days repeated at 3-week intervals was progressively increased by 150 mg/m2/day-increments to a maximum dosage of 750 mg/m2/day. The dose-limiting toxicities were hematologic and gastrointestinal. Neutropenia was more severe than was thrombocytopenia. The lowest granulocyte count less than 500/mm3 occurred during more than half of the treatment courses at doses of 600 mg/m2 and higher. Severe nausea and vomiting were observed in patients during three of four treatment courses at the 750 mg/m2 dose level. None of the patients had microscopic hematuria or symptoms suggestive of cystitis. Partial response occurred in a patient with parotid cancer metastatic to the lung. Disease stabilization occurred in four patients, while six patients had progression of disease. The recommended starting dosage of cyclophosphamide by continuous intravenous infusion for phase II trials is 600 mg/m2/day X 3 every 3 weeks for patients with good bone marrow reserve.     

Tardive dyskinesia: an increased risk of neuroleptics in elderly women

Tardive dyskinesia is a side-effect of antipsychotic drugs. Elderly women with depression are at risk even on a low dosis. A case is presented in which a typical depression was treated with high dosis haloperidol resulting in orofacial dyskinesia and a less frequently seen grunting. Correct diagnosis, indication, dosis monitoring and regular evaluation of possible side-effects are the most important factors to prevent these serious invalidating conditions.     

Mammalian exocrine secretions XV. Constituents of secretion of ventral gland of male dwarf hamster, Phodopus sungorus sungorus

In a study aimed at the chemical characterization of constituents of the ventral gland secretion of the male dwarf hamster, Phodopus sungorus sungorus, 48 compounds, including saturated alcohols, saturated and unsaturated ketones, saturated and unsaturated straight-chain carboxylic acids, iso- and anteisocarboxylic acids, 3-phenylpropanoic acid, hydroxyesters, 2-piperidone, and some steroids were identified in the secretion. The position of the double bonds in -icosadienyl--butyrolactone and -henicosadienyl--butyrolactone, and the position of methylbranching in seven C₁₆–C₂₁saturated ketones could not be established. Several constituents with typically steroidal mass spectra also remained unidentified. The female dwarf hamster's ventral gland either does not produce secretion or produced so little secretion that it was impossible to collect enough material for analysis.     

原子电子层填充的图形模式(英文)

提出了一种新的元素周期律的阵列式图示方法。基于相近的图阵,可使电子壳层的填充方式模式化。该图阵能容易地创建并方便使用,且具有较少的例外情形。并且该法的应用可以解释许多的物理和化学性质,特别是化学反应性质。