Alterations in T cell receptor and signal transduction molecules in melanoma patients

We have recently described molecular changes in T cells from tumor-bearing patients that are associated with depressed immune function. The present work investigates changes in T-cell signal transduction proteins including the T-cell receptor-zeta (TCR-zeta) chain and receptor-associated tyrosine kinases in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. A marked decrease in the expression of the TCR-zeta chain was observed in the peripheral blood T cells of 19 (43%) of 44 patients. Decreases in several tyrosine kinases were found in 12 (57%) of 21 patients tested. T cells from patients with diminished TCR-zeta chain expression also showed statistically significant differences in cytokine production pattern, with lower interleukin 2 and IFN-zeta production compared with normal subjects and melanoma patients with normal TCR-zeta chain status. The overall survival of melanoma patients with low TCR-zeta chain expression was significantly shorter than that of patients with normal TCR-zeta chain expression (P = 0.0013). TCR-zeta-deficient patients showed a trend toward having faster growing tumors. There was no correlation between the pretreatment TCR-zeta chain status and albumin or performance status. These findings suggest that alterations in T-cell function occur commonly in melanoma patients and may be independent predictors of clinical outcome.     

Influence of mixing on short contact time coal liquefaction

The influence of mixing on the liquefaction behaviour of coal at short contact times (? 20 min) has been studied for bituminous coals from Powhatan (USA) and Liddell (Australia). Experiments were carried out in 1.0 and 0.3 dm³ reactors, respectively, both of which had facilities for varying stirrer speed and for rapid injection of coal and solvent. Results at 450 °C with the Powhatan coal revealed that at a low agitation rate (1500 rev min^?1) the yields of oil were negative. At a higher stirrer speed (2500 rev min^?1) the agitation was sufficient to eliminate this oil deficiency. In the Liddell experiments, the conversion rate at a stirrer speed of 865 rev min^?1 was significantly lower than at 1860 and 2380 rev min^?1. Rate coefficients calculated for stirrer speeds of 865 and 1860 rev min^?1 were found to differ by more than a factor of two. These data illustrate that the degree of agitation can have a significant bearing on the rate of total conversion of coal to soluble products and on the yield of oil, suggesting that mass transfer limitations can occur at the coal-solvent interface.     

Acute hemodynamic and respiratory effects of amniotic fluid embolism in the pregnant goat model

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the acute-phase central hemodynamic and respiratory effects of raw, filtered, filtered and boiled, and meconium-containing amniotic fluid. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant goats (Capra hircus) in the last one third of pregnancy were given freshly collected autologous amniotic fluid in a volume of 2.5 ml/kg of body weight. Observations were then made at 10, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after amniotic fluid embolism. Pulmonary artery catheters and femoral artery lung water catheters were placed for specimen and data collection. RESULTS: Marked pressor responses were observed in both the pulmonary and systemic circulations with all amniotic fluid infusions. The pressor response was similar with raw, filtered, and filtered and boiled amniotic fluid. The pressor response seen with amniotic fluid containing meconium was significantly greater than that seen with the other forms. No significant effects were observed on cardiac or respiratory function except in the meconium group, where transient left ventricular dysfunction was accompanied by an acute increase in extravascular lung water and dysoxia. CONCLUSIONS: The Capra hircus model is appropriate for the further study of amniotic fluid embolism. The acute pressor effects are transient and involve both the systemic and pulmonary circulations. Left ventricular dysfunction and dysoxia were observed only with embolism of amniotic fluid containing meconium.     

Beam me up, nurse! Educational technology supports distance education

The Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education (ICNE) has recently added a second technology to its earlier distance education program. Orientation of nursing faculty to effectively use the new two-way video and audio interactive microwave system has been a challenge, and the reward for meeting that challenge is satisfied distant learners. The author discusses the planning, implementation, and evaluation of this new technology.     

Collision strengths and line strengths for fine-structure transitions between the 2la2lb configurations and the 2l′a3l′b configurations in Be-like ions

Collision strengths have been calculated for all fine-structure transitions between the levels of the 2l_a2l_b configurations and those of the 2l′_a3l′_b configurations in 17 Be-like ions with nuclear charge number Z in the range 10 ? Z ? 74 for nine impact-electron energies ? in threshold units in the range 1 ? ? ? 15. Fits of all the collision strengths to simple functions of ? that are readily integrated over a Maxwellian distribution to obtain collision rates are given. Also given are the results for transitions between energy terms. In addition, the electric-dipole radiative line strengths and the transition energies are listed. The method used is a Coulomb-Born-exchange method that is well suited for handling many members of an isoelectronic sequence simultaneously. The calculations include both configuration mixing and intermediate coupling effects.