Nickel sulphide-induced rhabdomyosarcomata in rats

Fifty-nine Fischer rat tumors and eleven Hooded rat tumors induced by intramuscular injection of Ni3S2 were examined and their histopathologic and cytologic characteristics studied. Nine out of eleven Hooded rat tumors metastasized whereas 15 out of 59 Fischer rat tumors metastasized within 30 days. Histopathological characterization of the Ni3S2-induced tumors was made according to their preponderant cellular constitution. They were grouped into six types: well-differentiated rhabdomyosarcomas, poorly-differentiated rhabdomyosarcomas, embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, mesenchymal tumors, leiomyosarcoma-like tumors and fibrosarcoma-like tumors. Forty-seven of total of 70 were rhabdomyosarcomas. Tumors with shorter latent periods in Fischer rats and tumors with fleshy and soft texture demonstrated a higher incidence of metastases.     

Functional longevity of intraperioneal drains: an experimental evaluation

Various types of drains were inserted into the peritoneal cavity of twenty-eight dogs. After one to seven days, all drains failed to show the presence of 200 cc of colored fluid injected intraperitoneally. On autopsy, all tubes were surrounded and occluded by omentum.     

A histopathologic study of macular cysts and holes

Forty-four eyes from 39 patients with either lamellar macular holes (17 eyes), full-thickness macular holes (18 eyes), and/or macular cysts (9 eyes) were studied histopathologically. Lamellar and full-thickness holes were frequently found in eyes with a history of trauma or ocular surgery. Diabetes mellitus was the most common condition associated with macular cysts. Four lamellar holes and four full-thickness holes occurred in eyes with senile macular degeneration. Six lamellar holes, eight full-thickness holes, and one macular cyst developed on an idiopathic basis. Residual cystoid macular edema was the most prevalent accompanying pathologic feature. Cystoid macular edema was also noted in the opposite eye in seven cases of lamellar and full-thickness holes. A preretinal glial membrane, thought to be a secondary change, was found at or near the edges of the lamellar or full-thickness holes or over the macular cyst in the majority of cases. Wrinkling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) was present in five cases. Vitreous traction, with or without an operculum, was infrequently associated with these entities.     

Cysteine and cystine transport at the blood-brain barrier

The nature of cysteine and cystine uptake from the cerebral capillary lumen was studied in the rat using the carotid injection technique, [35S]-Cysteine uptake was readily inhibited by the synthetic amino acid 2-aminobicyclo(2,2,1)heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), the defining substrate for the leucine-preferring (L) system in the Ehrlich ascites cell. The addition of nonradioactive alanine or serine, representatives of the alanine, serine, and cysteine-preferring (ASC) system, produced no significant decrease in the uptake of cysteine after cysteine transport by the L system was blocked with BCH. This indicated that the major component of cysteine's transport from the brain capillary lumen was by the L system with no detectable uptake of cysteine by the ASC system. No carrier-mediated transport of cystine, the disulfide form of the amino acid, was detected, nor was there any inhibition by cystine of the transport of the neutral amino acid methionine or the basic amino acid arginine. These results suggest that the ASC system, if present, is not quantitatively important for the transport of neutral amino acids from the brain capillary lumen.     

Indirect cytotoxicity evaluation of pseudowollastonite

This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of substances leached by pseudowollastonite (CaSiO₃). It has been previously shown that calcium (Ca²⁺) and silicate (SiO₃ ^–) ions are released from pseudowollastonite into biological solutions. Both of these ions are known to influence the biological metabolism of osteoblastic cells essential in the mineralization process and bone-bonding mechanism. The indirect toxicity evaluation was performed by extraction method, according to International Standard Organization (ISO). Pseudowollastonite pellets obtained by solid-state reaction were incubated, in culture medium, during 24, 48, 72 or 168 h at different concentrations (5, 10, 15, 50, 100, 200 mg/ml). The cytotoxicity of each extract in presence of human osteoblastic cell line (SaOS-2) was quantitatively assessed by measuring the viability (succinate dehydrogenase activity, MTT), the membrane integrity (the uptake of the neutral red by viable cells, NR) as well as the cell necrosis by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in the culture medium. No significant alteration of membrane integrity or cell suffering was detectable. However, increased cell metabolism was observed for cells exposed to pseudowollastonite extract with longest extraction time (168 h). In conclusion, mineral elements leached by pseudowollastonite do not significantly affect the metabolism of osteoblastic cells.     

Towards a feminist empowerment model of forgiveness psychotherapy.

In recent years Enright and Fitzgibbon's (2000) process model of forgiveness therapy has received substantial theoretical and empirical attention. However, both the process model of forgiveness therapy and the social-cognitive developmental model on which it is based have received criticism from feminist theorists. The current paper considers feminist criticisms of forgiveness therapy and uses a feminist lens to identify potential areas for growth. Specifically, Worell and Remer's (2003) model of synthesizing feminist ideals into existing theory was consulted, areas of bias within the forgiveness model of psychotherapy were identified, and strategies for restructuring areas of potential bias were introduced. Further, the authors consider unique aspects of forgiveness therapy that can potentially strengthen existing models of feminist therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Employee Health Care Value Survey: round one

In a groundbreaking arrangement, a consortium of large employers--the Xerox, GTE, and Digital Equipment Corporations--launched the Employee Health Care Value Survey during fall 1993. Completed by 24,306 employees, this survey was used to develop comparable methods for assessing corporate health care benefit strategies. It also enabled fair comparisons of thirty-two health plans across the country on more than sixty criteria. Variation in performance among plans was substantial, with managed care plans--particularly prepaid group practices and individual practice associations (IPAs)--recording the most favorable rankings on disenrollment, overall satisfaction, and other measures of "bottom-line performance." Variation in enrollees' health among plans was more modest, with indemnity enrollees posing a somewhat greater illness burden to their plans than enrollees of other plan types. The employers and evaluated health plans are now using the results for multiple purposes, including quality improvement initiatives, employee-based plan performance reports, employee contribution strategies, and health promotion programs.     

Characterization of a potent and specific class of antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of human protein kinase C-alpha expression

The use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit the expression of targeted mRNA sequences is becoming increasingly commonplace. Although effective, the most widely used oligonucleotide modification (phosphorothioate) has some limitations. In previous studies we have described a 20-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide inhibitor of human protein kinase C-alpha expression. In an effort to identify improved antisense inhibitors of protein kinase C expression, a series of 2' modifications have been incorporated into the protein kinase C-alpha targeting oligonucleotide, and the effects on oligonucleotide biophysical characteristics and pharmacology evaluated. The incorporation of 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl chemistry resulted in a number of significant improvements in oligonucleotide characteristics. These include an increase in hybridization affinity toward a complementary RNA (1.5 degrees C per modification) and an increase in resistance toward both 3'-exonuclease and intracellular nucleases. These improvements result in a substantial increase in oligonucleotide potency (>20-fold after 72 h). The most active compound identified was used to examine the role played by protein kinase C-alpha in mediating the phorbol ester-induced changes in c-fos, c-jun, and junB expression in A549 lung epithelial cells. Depletion of protein kinase C-alpha protein expression by this oligonucleotide lead to a reduction in c-jun expression but not c-fos or junB. These results demonstrate that 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl-modified antisense oligonucleotides are 1) effective inhibitors of protein kinase C-alpha expression, and 2) represent a class of antisense oligonucleotide which are much more effective inhibitors of gene expression than the widely used phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.