In vitro platelet function in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of elevated endogenous E2 levels on in vitro platelet function in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). DESIGN: Women with normal ovulatory cycles and patients undergoing COH on cycle day 3 and near ovulation (preovulatory follicles were at least 16 mm in diameter) were studied. Serum E2, Thrombostat 4000, (V. d. Goltz, Seeon, Germany), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag), and platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen (COL), and arachidonic acid (AA) were measured. SETTING: University-based outpatient infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Twenty-two consenting infertile women undergoing COH cycles and 14 women with documented ovulatory cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Whole blood platelet aggregation with ADP, COL, AA, and Thrombostat 4000. RESULTS(S): Estradiol levels rose significantly at peak times (P = 0.011). No changes were noted in in vitro platelet function measured by the Thrombostat 4000 and by whole blood platelet aggregation with ADP and AA and in ATP release with ADP, COL, or AA. Aggregation with collagen was increased because of likely elevations in vWF-Ag levels. CONCLUSION(S): No significant changes in in vitro platelet function were noted in 19 women undergoing COH with E2 levels two to three times that observed in oral contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy users, suggesting no increased risk for arterial thromboembolism.     

Topical contrast-enhanced CT and MR dacryocystography: imaging the lacrimal drainage apparatus of healthy volunteers

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of administering topical contrast material during helical CT dacryocystography and topical saline solution during MR dacryocystography to reveal the lacrimal drainage apparatus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fourteen healthy volunteers underwent helical CT dacryocystography, MR dacryocystography, or both. Eight of the 14 subjects underwent both techniques; three subjects underwent MR dacryocystography, and three subjects underwent CT dacryocystography. Images were evaluated by two radiologists for degree of visualization of components of the lacrimal drainage apparatus. Each volunteer was questioned about the relative discomfort of contrast material and saline solution administration. RESULTS: The lacrimal drainage system was seen on both CT dacryocystography and MR dacryocystography. CT dacryocystography allowed two-dimensional and three-dimensional reconstructions on which adjacent bone anatomy could be seen. The MR dacryocystography two-dimensional reconstructions and maximum intensity projections also showed the drainage apparatus. However, smaller drainage structures were more consistently seen on CT dacryocystography than on MR dacryocystography. Saline solution was more comfortable than contrast material. CONCLUSION: CT dacryocystography and MR dacryocystography reproducibly and non-invasively revealed the lacrimal drainage apparatus and allowed a better physiologic examination than cannulation dacryocystography. MR dacryocystography can be performed without administration of ionizing radiation or contrast material, but this technique cannot show adjacent bone anatomy and less consistently showed the smaller drainage structures than CT dacryocystography.     

Hormonal studies and Doppler flow imaging of ovarian lipoid cell tumors: report of two cases

Ovarian lipoid cell tumors are very rare. We report two cases with abnormal menstruation, hirsutism, clitoromegaly and marked elevations of serum testosterone. Sonography revealed unilateral adnexal solid tumors. Flow velocity wave form study showed apparent flow within the tumor with the resistance index ranging from 0.42 to 0.49 in both cases. Unilateral oophorectomy and contralateral ovarian biopsy were performed. Frozen sections showed lipoid cell tumors without malignant change. During surgery, direct ovarian venipuncture showed a discrepancy in testosterone level in the bilateral ovaries of both patients and large ovarian-peripheral venous gradients in case 2. The testosterone concentration returned to normal postoperatively in both cases. Flow velocity wave form study and direct ovarian venipuncture are useful tools for evaluation of androgen-secreting tumors preoperatively and intraoperatively.     

Detection of soluble methane monooxygenase producing Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b by polymerase chain reaction

The soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) enzyme complex of methanotrophs cometabolizes haloaliphatic compounds such as trichloroethylene. Two 18-mer oligonucleotides as primary primers and a nested primer of the same length were selected to amplify specific DNA sequences of the sMMO gene cluster using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two DNA fragments of sizes 270 and 400 base pairs were obtained when purified DNA from the methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b was used as template. The primers were specific for sMMO sequences of M. trichosporium, since none of the 13 bacterial isolates screened yielded the expected length of PCR-amplified DNA fragments. The detection limit of the PCR method was 5 x 10(2) cells of M. trichosporium. The sMMO sequences were successfully amplified in groundwater (containing native microbial population) when seeded with M. trichosporium, FP1 sense (5'-ATGTCCAGCGCTCATAAC-3'), RP1 antisense (5'-TCAGATGTCGGTCAGGGC-3'), FP2 sense nested (5'GCCATCATCGGTCAGGGC-3'), and FP2 sense nested (5'-GCCATCATCGAGGACATC-3').     

On using peer-to-peer communication in cellular wireless data networks

A recent class of approaches for enhancing the performance of cellular wireless data networks has focused on improving the underlying network model. It has been shown that using the peer-to-peer network model, a mode of communication typically seen in ad hoc wireless networks, can result in performance improvements such as increased data rate, reduced transmission power, better load balancing, and enhanced network coverage. However, the true impact of adopting the peer-to-peer network model in such an environment is yet to be fully understood. In this paper, we investigate the performance benefits and drawbacks of using the peer-to-peer network model for Internet access in cellular wireless data networks. We find that, although the peer-to-peer network model has significantly better spatial reuse characteristics, the improved spatial reuse does not translate into better throughput performance. Instead, we observe that using the peer-to-peer network model as-is might actually degrade the throughput performance of the network. We identify and discuss the reasons behind these observations. Using the insights gained through the performance evaluations, we then propose two categories of approaches to improve the performance of the peer-to-peer network model: approaches that leverage assistance from the base station and approaches that leverage the relaying capability of multihomed hosts. Through simulation results, we show that using the peer-to-peer network model in cellular wireless data networks is a promising approach when the network model is complemented with appropriate mechanisms.     

Subcutaneous Controlled Delivery of Estradiol by Compudose° Implants: in Vitro and in vivo Evaluations

The in vitro and in vivo releases of estradiol from the recently marketed Compudose°-200 and -400 implants were evaluated. These subdermal implants are designed for subcutaneous controlled administration of estradiol in steers for 200- or 400-day growth promotion.

Analysis of the in vitro release profiles of estradiol from Compudose implants indicated that the release of estradiol is under a matrix diffusion-controlled process and follows a linear Q vs. t^1/2 relationship.

The release flux from both Compudose-200 and -400 implants was found to be dependent upon the volume fraction of polyethylene glycol 400, which acts as the solubilizer for estradiol, in the aqueous elution solution.

Subcutaneous release of estradiol from Compudose implants was also conducted in laboratory rats for a duration of up to 114 days. Results indicated that the Q vs. t^1/2 linearity is also followed. The subcutaneous rate of release was calculated to be 520 mcg/cm²/day^1/2 for Compudose-200 and 360 mcg/cm²/day^1/2 for Compudose-400.     

Cytotoxic granular protein expression, Epstein-Barr virus strain type, and latent membrane protein-1 oncogene deletions in nasal T-lymphocyte/natural killer cell lymphomas from Mexico

Nasal T-lymphocyte/natural killer cell lymphomas (nT/NKLs) are a distinct group of neoplasms highly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), with a high prevalence in Asia but rare in Western countries. Recent studies indicate that these neoplasms are of cytotoxic T- or NK-cell derivation. Previous studies identifying a characteristic 30-base pair deletion within the 3' end of latent membrane protein-1 (del-LMP-1) in other EBV-associated lymphomas suggested a pathogenetic role for del-LMP-1 in those neoplasms. We examined 23 cases of nT/NKL from Mexico for expression of the cytolytic granular proteins TIA-1 and perforin (PRF), and for the presence of EBV by in situ hybridization (ISH). Polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the EBV (EBNA-2) strain type and the status of the LMP-1 gene (del-LMP-1). Controls consisted of 11 sinonasal B-cell lymphomas (nBLs) and 30 reactive tonsils (RTs) from healthy Mexican individuals. The nT/NKLs expressed TIA-1 in 21 (91%) of 23 cases and PRF in 15 (65%) of 23 cases. In contrast, all of the nBLs were negative for TIA-1 and PRF. Twenty-two (96%) of 23 nT/NKLs were positive for EBV by ISH. In contrast, only 2 (18%) of 11 nBLs were positive for EBV by ISH. EBV strain Type A was identified in 21 (91%) of 23 cases, whereas strain Type B was present in 2 (9%) of the 23 nT/NKLs. A similar percentage (80%) of Type A was noted in 12 of the 15 RTs. del-LMP-1 was detected in 6 (26%) of 23 nT/NKLs, comprising 4 cases of Type A and 2 of Type B. del-LMP-1 was detected in 9 (45%) of 20 RTs. Our results indicated that TIA-1 and PRF were sensitive markers of nT/NKL. The presence of del-LMP-1 in comparable frequencies in the RTs and nT/NKLs suggested to us that this genotype was common in the Mexican population and argued against a definite pathogenetic role for del-LMP-1 in nT/NKL.