No increased risk of malignancies and mortality in cyclosporin A-treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cyclosporin A (CSA)-attributed risk of developing malignancies in general and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases (LPDs) and skin cancers in particular, as well as the CSA-attributed incidence of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In a retrospective, controlled cohort study, the incidence of malignancies and mortality was evaluated in 208 CSA-treated patients with RA compared with 415 matched control patients with RA between 1984 and 1995. Patients were followed up for a median of 5.0 years (range 1.4-12.0). RESULTS: Forty-eight cases of malignancy (8 in the CSA group and 40 in the control group; relative risk [RR] 0.40, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.19-0.84) were identified, of which 8 were malignant LPDs (2 CSA versus 6 control; RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.14-3.27) and 14 were skin cancers (2 CSA versus 12 control; RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.08-1.47). Seventy-three patients died (16 CSA versus 57 control; RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.33-0.95) due primarily to cardiovascular diseases (4 CSA versus 22 control; RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-1.04) or a malignancy (3 CSA versus 8 control; RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.18-2.43). Proportional hazards regression analysis with correction for potential confounding factors did not significantly change the results. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that CSA treatment in RA patients does not increase the risk of malignancies in general or the risk of malignant LPDs or skin cancers in particular. Moreover, the incidence of mortality in CSA-treated RA patients was comparable to that in matched control RA patients.     

Atm deficiency results in severe meiotic disruption as early as leptonema of prophase I

Infertility is a common feature of the human disorder ataxia-telangiectasia and Atm-deficient mice are completely infertile. To gain further insight into the role of ATM in meiosis, we examined meiotic cells in Atm-deficient mice during development. Spermatocyte degeneration begins between postnatal days 8 and 16.5, soon after entry into prophase I of meiosis, while oocytes degenerate late in embryogenesis prior to dictyate arrest. Using electron microscopy and immunolocalization of meiotic proteins in mutant adult spermatocytes, we found that male and female gametogenesis is severely disrupted in Atm-deficient mice as early as leptonema of prophase I, resulting in apoptotic degeneration. A small number of mutant cells progress into later stages of meiosis, but no cells proceed beyond prophase I. ATR, a protein related to ATM, DMC1, a RAD51 family member, and RAD51 are mislocalized to chromatin and have reduced localization to developing synaptonemal complexes in spermatocytes from Atm-deficient mice, suggesting dysregulation of the orderly progression of meiotic events. ATM protein is normally present at high levels primarily in ova cytoplasm of developing ovarian follicles, and in the nucleus of spermatogonia and to a lesser extent in spermatoctyes, but without localization to the synaptonemal complex. We propose a model in which ATM acts to monitor meiosis by participation in the regulation or surveillance of meiotic progression, similar to its role as a monitor of mitotic cell cycle progression.     

Comparative morphological study of the prothallial development in Asplenium species

This study concerns the comparative development of gametophytes of nine Asplenium species. Some of them are diplo?d, others tetraploid. They were studied on a cytogenetic point of view by british workers who found parental relationships between these species. The morphological analysis of the gametophytic development permits to determine the definite stages on which the tetraplo?d species like to the supposed diploid parents. The inherited morphological characteristics are also described, for instance: formation of the prothallial plate, form of the marginal hairs. This qualitative analysis of the gametophytic development is not sufficient to confirm the supposed parental relationships. Therefore, precisions are given by the results of the quantitative analysis of the prothallial development and the study of the vascularization of the young sporophytes; these results will be soon published.     

Detection of genetically modified plant products by protein strip testing: an evaluation of real-life samples

The determination of the presence of genetically modified plant material by the detection of expressed genetically engineered proteins using lateral flow protein strip tests has been evaluated in different matrices. The presence of five major genetically engineered proteins (CP4-EPSPS, CryIAb, Cry9C, PAT/pat and PAT/bar protein) was detected at low levels in seeds, seed/leaf powder and leaf tissue from genetically modified soy, maize or oilseed rape. A comparison between “protein strip test” (PST) and “polymerase chain reaction” (PCR) analysis of genetically modified food/feed samples demonstrates complementarities of both techniques.     

Equivalence in the genetic control of hindbrain segmentation in fish and mouse

Self psychology's emphasis on listening and understanding from a patient's vantage point has led to a commonly held misconception that it ignores conflict and aggression; this is not the case. On the contrary, an understanding of rage is central to Kohut's views. Some basic self psychological concepts and their application to dealing with conflict and aggression in group psychotherapy are presented along with a clinical illustration. In the approach presented, it is not the rage and conflict itself that becomes the focus of the therapeutic endeavor. It is the underlying vulnerability that must be expressed, explored, and worked through in order to facilitate a curative process.     

Hot hole degradation effects in lateral nDMOS transistors

The degradation of a n-type lateral DMOS transistor is shown to be related to the injection of hot holes in the drift region field oxide. The saturation effects observed in the parameter shifts are reproduced by a new degradation model using the bulk current as the driving force. The dependency of the hot hole injection on the layout of the LDMOS transistors is studied.     

Differences in reproductive characteristics among field populations of Polycelis tenuis (Platyhelminthes) in a metal contaminated stream

The unlabeled (cold) minimal model (MM) and the labeled (hot) minimal model (HMM) are a powerful tool to investigate in vivo metabolism from a standard intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) or hot IVGTT (HIVGTT). They allow to estimate metabolic indexes of the glucose-insulin system, namely glucose effectiveness (GE) and insulin sensitivity (IS) (of uptake and production those of MM, and of uptake only those of HMM). Here, the consequences of the single-compartment glucose kinetics approximation used in the MM's are investigated via Monte Carlo simulation, using a physiologic reference model (RM) of the system. RM allows to generate noisy synthetic plasma concentrations of glucose, tracer glucose, and insulin during IVGTT and HIVGTT, which are then analyzed with MM and HMM. The MM and HMM GE and IS are then compared with the RM ones. Results of 400 runs show that: 1) correlation of MM GE with the RM index is weak; 2) MM IS is well correlated with the RM index, but severely underestimates it; 3) HMM clearance rate is correlated with RM clearance; and 4) HMM IS is well correlated and only slightly overestimates the RM index. These results demonstrate that GE of MM is most affected by the single-compartment approximation and the indexes of HMM are more robust than those of MM.     

On the electrical SOA of integrated vertical DMOS transistors

The dependency of the electrical safe operating area (SOA) of an integrated vertical DMOS transistor on the layout as well as on the residual epitaxial thickness of the drift region, is experimentally investigated using transmission line pulsing experiments. Guidelines for optimizing the SOA without compromising the other device parameters are given.     

ESA's in-orbit test facilities for communications satellites

The facilities and in orbit test methods developed by the European Space Agency over the last two decades, in the frame of the various communications satellite programmes, are reviewed. The lessons learned and the hardware and software precautions implemented to enhance accuracy and operational flexibility are described. New facilities and methods currently under development are also addressed.     

A Constructive Technology Assessment Approach to ICT Planning in Developing Countries: Evaluating the First Phase,the Roundtable Workshop

Information and communication technology (ICT) might play an important role in development. There are many failed implementations as there is limited knowledge of how to apply ICT in a development context. The Roundtable (RT) workshop is a participatory approach based on constructive technology assessment. This paper develops an evaluative framework to assess the effectiveness of the RT workshop. It is an interpretive study based on quantitative and qualitative data from case studies. It is a rare and detailed study on the process and output of a participatory exercise. It shows that the RT workshop is a useful and robust methodology to integrate ICTs in priority areas of sector development like agriculture, education, health, etc. Empowerment, reflexive learning, and networking are key elements to generate owned up ICT projects that are moulded to local needs. In a cross-case analysis relevant contextual factors are identified.