Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in human gliomas and their relation to angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a possible target in the treatment of human gliomas. To evaluate the role of 3 growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), in the angiogenic cascade, we determined their levels in extracts of 71 gliomas by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of bFGF were only marginally different between gliomas of World Health Organization (WHO) grade II (low grade) and grades III and IV (high grade). In contrast, the mean concentrations of VEGF were 11-fold higher in high-grade tumors and those of HGF/SF 7-fold, respectively. Both were highly significantly correlated with microvessel density (p < 0.001) as determined by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen. In addition, VEGF and HGF/SF appeared to be independent predictive parameters for glioma microvessel density as determined by multiple regression analysis. We measured the capacity of all 3 factors to induce endothelial tube formation in a collagen gel. In this assay, bFGF was found to be an essential cofactor with which VEGF as well as HGF/SF were able to synergize independently. According to the concentrations of angiogenic factors, extracts from high-grade tumors were significantly more potent in the tube formation assay than the low-grade extracts (p = 0.02). Adding neutralizing antibodies to bFGF, VEGF and HGF/SF together with the extracts, tube formation was inhibited by up to 98%, 62% and 54%, respectively. Our findings suggest that bFGF is an essential cofactor for angiogenesis in gliomas, but in itself is insufficient as it is present already in the sparsely vascularized low-grade tumors. Upon induction of angiogenesis in high-grade tumors, bFGF may synergize with rising levels of not only VEGF but possibly also with HGF/SF, which appears here to be an independent angiogenic factor.     

DISCOVERY软件在七西区克下组油藏扩边开发中的应用

Discovery软件包在井数据管理、地层划分对比、测井解释及地质成图等方面与其他油藏描述软件相比具有无可比拟的优势。利用该软件完成对克拉玛依油田七西区克下组油藏构造、沉积、储层、油层解释、成藏机理等综合评价,计算出扩边区新增探明石油地质储量,并指导《克拉玛依油田七西区克下组油藏扩边开发布井意见》开发方案的编制,为七西区克下组油藏增储上产提供强有力的技术支持。     

Cholesterol absorption in man: effect of administration of clofibrate and/or cholestyramine

Cholesterol absorption measurements were carried out in a free-living out-patient population by a plasma isotope-ratio method previously validated for in-patients (Samuel, P., J. R. Crouse and E. H. Ahrens, Jr., 1978. J. Lipid Res. 19: 82-93). To test the reproducibility of the method in out-patients, 18 patients were tested twice: the mean intra-assay variability was +/- 6.0%. The method was then applied in 150 hyperlipidemic male out-patients, ingesting a standardized diet containing 250mg cholesterol per day, who had been randomized into four different drug-treatment groups: 1) no medication, 2) clofibrate, (2g/day), 3) cholestyramine (16g/day), or 4) both clofibrate and cholestyramine. Cholesterol absorption (as percent of the oral dose) was increased in patients receiving cholestyramine (P < 0.02) and decreased in those receiving clofibrate (P < 0.02); the group on the combined medication had the same pecent absorption as the control group. In twelve patients receiving cholestyramine, a second test of cholesterol absorption was performed 30 min after each patient had received 8g of cholestyramine. The pre-test administration of cholestyramine caused a 38% decrease in cholesterol absorption (P < 0.001), compared to results obtained when medication was withheld prior to testing. These results demonstrate that the isotope-ratio method of measuring cholesterol absorption is a reproducible procedure applicable to a free-living out-patient population, and that the hypolipidemic drugs, clofibrate and cholestyramine, significantly affect cholesterol absorption in man. The data also show that the results of measurements of cholesterol absorption can be profoundly altered by the type and timing of medication in relationship to the test meal of labeled cholesterol.     

Neurogenic relaxation mediated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the isthmus of the human fallopian tube

The smooth musculature of the Fallopian tube is important for normal ovum transport, fertilization and implantation. Little is known about the factors controlling the motor activity of the isthmic sphincter. Studies were performed on smooth muscle preparations from the human tube in vitro. Electrical field stimulation of the nerves in the isthmic region reduced the motor activity, particularly in the circular muscle. The response was unaffected by adrenergic and cholinergic antagonists, but blocked by tetrodotoxin, suggesting a neural involvement. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was considered a likely candidate for the neural mediation of this response in view of the high density of VIP-containing nerve fibres in this region, and in view of the fact that exogenous VIP causes a marked reduction of the tubal motor activity. To test whether VIP might be the endogenous mediator of this effect, nerve stimulation was carried out in the presence of large amounts of exogenous VIP in order to occupy all VIP receptors; the motor inhibitory action of VIP was counteracted by vasopressin. Under these conditions, nerve stimulation failed to reduce isthmic motor activity. This was not due to vasopressin since reduction occurred in the presence of this peptide alone. The results suggest that VIP is responsible for the neurogenic inhibition of motor activity in the isthmus region of the human Fallopian tube.     

A comparison of epidemiologic, histologic, and virologic studies on Hodgkin''s disease in western Kenya and Nagasaki, Japan

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to determine which medical variables were predictors of long-term behavioural/emotional outcome after surgical correction for congenital heart disease in infancy and childhood. METHODS: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to predict parent-reported behavioural/emotional problems in 125 10-15 year-old congenital heart disease children from: (1) biographical status (2) medical history (3) heart surgery (4) short-term post-operative course and (5) number of heart operations and (6) extra cardiac concomitant anomalies. RESULTS: Higher CBCL total problem scores at follow-up were associated with a greater number of heart operations and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (< 22 degrees). 'Internalizing problems' were associated with a greater number of heart operations, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, a short gestational age, low systemic oxygen saturation, and older age at surgical repair. 'Externalizing problems' were associated with a greater number of heart operations only. CONCLUSION: Several medical variables were significant predictors and can be used to identify those congenital heart disease children who are at risk of long-term behavioural/emotional maladjustment.     

红外光学系统粘接密封的装调研究

本文叙述了红外光学系统各圆形光学零件结构所组成的传感光组。应用现代的粘接密封技术,对不同材质、不同膨胀系数的光学零件结构装调,在高、低温度化情况下,聚硫橡胶对保证成像质量和密封性能具有最佳的技术状态。所研制的S—7—1聚硫密封胶技术指标、性能以及粘接密封工艺,均能满足红外光学系统的技术条件要求。     

Continued pregnancy among abortion applications. A study of women having a change of mind

OBJECTIVE: A certain proportion of women applying for legal abortion later change their minds. The present study was designed to ascertain whether such women differ from those who choose to terminate their pregnancy, with regard to age, civil status, other demographic characteristics, or reproductive history. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Malm?, Lund University, Sweden. SUBJECTS: All 1,446 abortion applicants attending the abortion clinic at University Hospital Malm?, in 1989. STUDY DESIGN: A comparison of the women who continued the pregnancy and those who underwent abortion, with regard to the above mentioned factors. METHODS: Semistructured interviews and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of this series of urban abortion applicants, almost one in ten underwent a change of mind. Women who chose to continue their pregnancy differed from those who held fast to their initial decision above all with regard to age and family situation. Less important was education, reproductive history, and stated reasons for abortion. CONCLUSIONS: To answer the question why some women continue an unwanted pregnancy after a closer consideration is not easy. The complexity of a woman's feeling in the matter seems to be moderated by the kind of support and stability she has in her life situation and also of the stability in relation to her partner. An equally important question is whether this change of mind is associated with a changed attitude to the expected baby (i.e., does an unwanted child become a wanted one?).