Quantitation of vancomycin and its crystalline degradation product (CDP-1) in human serum by high performance liquid chromatography

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients represent a difficult problem, sometimes to establish the diagnosis but mostly because of their refractoriness to standard lymphoma treatments. Which treatments to apply and to whom is not yet defined. In this study, we attempted to analyze the clinical features, to identify the major prognostic factors, and to evaluate the outcome of 121 MCL patients treated in our institution between 1979 and 1997. Clinical data, treatment modalities, and International Prognostic Index (IPI) score were evaluated. Median age was 63 years. Patients usually presented with advanced stage disease (87%), disseminated lymph nodes (57%), bone marrow involvement (79%), but with a good performance status (PS) (81%). Lymphocytosis >4000/microl and/or peripheral blood involvement was present in 36% of cases, and gastrointestinal disease in 18%. The t(11;14)(q13;q32) and/or bcl-1 rearrangement was detected in 47/57 studied cases. Median overall survival (OS) was 3.12 years and a longer survival was significantly associated with younger age (<70 years), good PS (<2), localized disease (stage I-II), fewer than two extra-nodal sites, absence of spleen or peripheral blood involvement, normal serum LDH and beta2-microglobulin levels, and hemoglobin level greater than 12 g/dl. However, the IPI failed to identify patients with longer OS and in a multiparametric analysis, only older age, hemoglobin less than 12 g/dl, poor PS, and blood involvement were associated with a poorer outcome. Treatment modalities had no impact on survival with 75% of patients relapsing or progressing. Our data showed that the poor outcome of MCL patients is mainly related to adverse patient characteristics, a highly disseminated tumor, and some unknown parameters associated with the refractoriness to standard therapy.     

Gene conversion tracts from double-strand break repair in mammalian cells

A new assay termed the dome disappearance method for classical swine fever virus (CSFV) using FS-L3 cells with serum-free culture medium was developed. The CSFV live vaccine GPE- strain grows well and shows a slight cytopathic effect (CPE) in FS-L3 cells. This CPE results in the disappearance of the unique fluid-filled multicellular domes on a single monolayer of FS-L3 cells. By using this phenomenon, dome disappearance, as a marker of infection, it was possible to determine the titers of CSFV and its neutralizing antibody. The virus titer determined by this method shows a good correlation with that determined by immunochemical and interference methods. Furthermore, the amount of neutralizing antibody measured by this method also correlated with that measured by the Exaltation of Newcastle Disease Virus (END) neutralizing method. The dome disappearance method developed in this experiment is a simple and safe procedure and has the great advantage that bovine serum, which may contain antibody against bovine viral diarrhea virus, is not necessary for the cultivation of FS-L3 cells.     

Native serotonin 5-HT3 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes differ from homopentameric 5-HT3 receptors

Efficacies of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R) agonists 2-methyl-5-HT, dopamine, and m-chlorophenylbiguanide on 5-HT3R native to N1E-115 cells and on homopentameric 5-HT3R expressed in Xenopus oocytes were determined relative to that of 5-HT. Efficacies of 2-methyl-5-HT and dopamine on 5-HT3R native to differentiated N1E-115 cells are high (54 and 36%) as compared with their efficacies on homopentameric 5-HT3R-A(L) and 5-HT3R-A(S) receptors expressed in oocytes (4-8%). m-Chlorophenylbiguanide does not distinguish between 5-HT3R in N1E-115 cells and in oocytes. The distinct pharmacological profile of 5-HT3R native to differentiated N1E-115 cells is conserved when poly(A)+ mRNA from these cells is expressed in oocytes. The results indicate that, apart from the known 5-HT3R subunits, N1E-115 cells express additional proteins involved in 5-HT3R function.     

Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers

Background  

Ambient particulate matter and nanoparticles have been shown to translocate to the brain, and potentially influence the central nervous system. No data are available whether this may lead to functional changes in the brain.     

流动控制结晶器内钢液运动的规律

在连铸实验装置上 ,以低熔点Pb Sn Bi合金和硅油分别模拟钢液和保护渣 ,对流动控制结晶器内钢液流动规律进行了实验研究。结果表明 ,流动控制结晶器能够控制弯月面的波动和水口区域的流动状态 ,对改善连铸坯表面及内部质量具有良好的作用。     

The limits of testing particle-mediated oxidative stress in vitro in predicting diverse pathologies; relevance for testing of nanoparticles

In vitro studies with particles are a major staple of particle toxicology, generally used to investigate mechanisms and better understand the molecular events underlying cellular effects. However, there is ethical and financial pressure in nanotoxicology, the new sub-specialty of particle toxicology, to avoid using animals. Therefore an increasing amount of studies are being published using in vitro approaches and such studies require careful interpretation. We point out here that 3 different conventional pathogenic particle types, PM₁₀, asbestos and quartz, which cause diverse pathological effects, have been reported to cause very similar oxidative stress effects in cells in culture. We discuss the likely explanation and implications of this apparent paradox, and its relevance for testing in nanotoxicology.