Comparison of the biodistribution and the efficacy of monoclonal antibody 323/A3 labeled with either 131I or 186Re in human ovarian cancer xenografts

The effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) upon thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) release were studied in euthyroid rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of AVP in doses of 0.5 ng or 5 ng led to significant increases in plasma levels of TSH as well as FT4 and FT3. The effects of OT injected i.c.v. in similar doses were not consistent (there was no parallel between the changes of respective hormones plasma levels). It may be concluded that vasopressin modulate the pituitary-thyroid system function; AVP is probably a physiological stimulator of TSH and thyroid hormones secretion.     

Chemical characterization of in vivo aged zinc phosphate dental cements

The chemical composition of zinc phosphate dental cements aged in vivo was studied. Twenty-seven samples aged 2 to 43 years were investigated using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Evidence for the presence of zinc oxide, amorphous zinc phosphate, water of hydration and crystalline zinc phosphate tetrahydrate was found. The latter was identified as hopeite; it was present in 92% of the cements studied. No correlation with time concerning either the chemical structure of the components or their relative amounts was found. Zinc phosphate dental cements show very good chemical stability on long-term use.     

Extrahepatic metabolism of 4-methylumbelliferone and lidocaine in the anhepatic rabbit

OBJECTIVE: The initially well-fixed implants of total hip replacement (THR) are in the long-term subject to aseptic loosening. Many cytokines can contribute to osteolysis due to osteoclast recruitment and/or activation. However, in this respect tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a pivotal role, because it upregulates interleukin-1 and 6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. The aim of this study was to assess the eventual presence, cellular localization and extent of expression of TNF-alpha in the synovial-like membrane at the implant or at the cement to bone interface compared to control synovial membrane. METHODS: Twenty samples from the synovial-like membrane of the periprosthetic tissues were compared to control samples. TNF-alpha containing cells were visualized using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method and analyzed by light microscopy, double labelling and image analysis. RESULTS: TNF-alpha was found in the periprosthetic tissues in fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, but mainly in the macrophages was it found to coincide with areas containing implant-derived debris. TNF-alpha containing cells were more numerous in the synovial-like membrane in the interface tissue from the proximal stem area (2816 +/- 318 cells) than in the control synovial membrane (565 +/- 93 cells, p < 0.01). Interestingly, similarly high TNF-alpha expression (3452 +/- 582 cells) was also seen in the synovial-like membrane of the pseudocapsule. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the foreign body-type host reaction caused by THR is characterized by the high expression of TNF-alpha. Because such expression occurred in the interface tissue between the implant and surrounding bone, TNF-alpha, due to its pivotal direct and indirect role in the activation and recruitment of osteoclasts, may contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis and to the loosening of THR.     

Pharmacological specificities and modalities of prescriptions for corticoids for asthmatic adults

The efficacy of corticosteroids in asthma has been recognized over 40 years ago. Since that time, the advent of inhaled forms has further improved the therapeutic of these drugs which are now recognized as the fundamental treatment for asthma, and described in detail by national and international consensus. Based on a large body of literature, it can now be recommended to prescribe inhaled corticosteroids for symptomatic asthma patients. Long-term treatment is required and dosage not exceeding 1000 micrograms/d (beclometasone dipropionate equivalent) in adults are safe. Differences in the pharmacological characteristics of the various systematic and inhaled corticosteroids can be used to adapt treatment and administration route to each patient and achieve good patient compliance with optimal therapeutic efficacy.     

Mena, a relative of VASP and Drosophila Enabled, is implicated in the control of microfilament dynamics

This paper examines the effects of exposure to mass media messages promoting family planning on the reproductive behaviour of married women in Nigeria using cross-sectional data. Longitudinal data are also used to ensure that exposure to media messages pre-dates the indicators of reproductive behaviour. Cross-sectional analysis suggests that: (1) contraceptive use and intention are positively associated with exposure to mass media messages, and (2) women who are exposed to media messages are more likely to desire fewer children than those who are not exposed to such messages. Similarly, analysis of the longitudinal data shows that exposure to mass media messages is a significant predictor of contraceptive use. Thus, exposure to mass media messages about family planning may be a powerful tool for influencing reproductive behaviour in Nigeria.     

Changes in serum thyrotropin (TSH) in man during halofenate administration

Halofenate, a serum lipid-lowering agent which inhibits binding of thyroid hormone to thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), was administered daily for 14 days to 8 hypothyroid subjects with elevated TSH concentrations as a result of incomplete thyroxine (T4) therapy. Drug administration resulted in mean increases in serum dialyzable fraction T4 (DFT4) of 52% over pretreatment levels (P less than 0.01) and in dialyzable fraction triiodothyronine (DFT3) of 26% in 7 subjects, (P less than 0.01). During halofenate treatment in these 7 subjects, serum TSH concentrations decreased significantly (mean = 39%, P less than 0.01) when DFT4 and DFT3 were increased by halofenate. In only two subjects was there a convincing temporal relationship between increased serum absolute free T4 (AFT4) and decreased serum TSH concentrations. Contrary to what would be predicted from the "free hormone hypothesis", changes in serum TSH concentration in these hypothyroid patients appeared to relate primarily to changes in the free fraction of circulating T4 and T3 (DFT4, DFT3), rather than to alterations in AFT4 or AFT3. Halofenate did not alter serum TBG binding capacity. An eighth subject did not show increased DFT4 and DFT3 during halofenate treatment despite achievement of therapeutic serum levels of the agent; in this patient, serum TSH levels rose progressively throughout the period of inadequate T4 replacement and halofenate administration. In hypothyroid patients, short-term halofenate use suggests that the pituitary-thyroid hormone feedback circuit can respond to increases in serum DFT4 and DFT3 in the absence of detactable increases in absolute free hormone concentrations.     

Characterization of hydrogen bonding in the complex of adenosine deaminase with a transition state analogue: a Raman spectroscopic study

The Raman spectra of purine ribonucleoside as well as a stable model compound (1-methoxyl-1,6-dihydropurine ribonucleoside), free in solution and bound into its complex with adenosine deaminase (ADA), have been studied by Raman difference spectroscopy. Using purine riboside analogues labeled with 15N1 or 13C6 and the theoretical frequency normal-mode analyses of these molecules using ab initio quantum mechanic methods, we have positively identified many of the Raman bands in the enzyme-bound inhibitor. The spectrum of the enzyme-bound inhibitor is consistent with the enzyme-catalyzed hydration of the purine base to yield 1-hydroxyl-1,6-dihydropurine ribonucleoside, as suggested earlier by X-ray crystallographic studies. In addition, the Raman data and subsequent vibrational analyses show that the binding-induced Raman spectral changes of the inhibitor can be modeled by the formation of a strong hydrogen bond to its N1-H bond. This hydrogen bond, apparently between the N1-H of the inhibitor and the Odelta1 of Glu217 in ADA, causes a substantial N1-H bending frequency increase of about 50-100 cm-1 compared to its solution value, and this results in an estimated enthalpy of the hydrogen bond of 4-10 kcal/mol. The relationship of transition state stabilization in the catalytic strategy of this efficient enzyme to such a bonding pattern is discussed.