Interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme mediates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in malignant glioma cells

Increasing the susceptibility of tumor cells to apoptotic cell death following chemotherapy is of importance to the outcome of cancer treatment. Although the tumor suppressor gene p53 is required for efficient induction of apoptosis by chemotherapeutic agents, it is not the only apoptosis mediator gene. The molecular mechanisms mediating apoptosis following chemotherapy via p53-dependent or p53-independent pathways remain unclear. We show here that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin) induces the expression of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE), a mammalian homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene ced-3, in murine and human malignant glioma cells during apoptosis regardless of their p53 status. Furthermore, overexpression of the murine ICE gene induces apoptosis in these tumor cells. The apoptosis induced by cisplatin treatment or murine ICE overexpression can be suppressed by the tetrapeptide ICE inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK or the apoptosis inhibitors bcl-2 or bcl-2-related bcl-XL gene. These findings suggest that ICE may mediate apoptosis induced by chemotherapy, and its induction could represent a novel approach for the effective treatment of malignant glioma.     

Placebo-controlled immunotherapy with Cocos nucifera pollen extract

The effectiveness of Cocos nucifera pollen extract immunotherapy (CPE-IT) was studied in 96 patients allergic to C. nucifera pollen. A placebo-controlled study was performed at random for a period of 6-12 months. The clinical status of the patients measured by the symptom-medication scores demonstrated that C. nucifera pollen-allergic patients had significant (p < 0.005) clinical improvement after CPE-IT in comparison to placebo treatment. Serological study resulted a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of specific IgE and significant elevation (p < 0.01) of specific IgG in post-therapeutic patients' sera which were correlated significantly (r = 0.45, p < 0.001); the changes of the above immunoglobulin levels in the placebo-treated patients were nonsignificant. However, there was no correlation between symptom-medication scores and changes in specific serum IgE or IgG levels.     

The use of external, noninvasive pacing for the termination of supraventricular tachycardia in the emergency department setting

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential feasibility of external cardiac pacing for the termination of sustained supraventricular tachycardia in the emergency department setting. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: Three men and two women (mean age, 34 years) who presented to the ED with a narrow-complex, hemodynamically stable tachycardia that was later proven to be supraventricular in origin. INTERVENTION: Each patient underwent external overdrive pacing using a modified external pacemaker at a pulse amplitude of 120 mA and a rate between 240 and 280 pulses per minute. RESULTS: In four patients, external cardiac pacing was able to successfully terminate the tachycardia without complication. In one patient, the pacemaker was not able to terminate the tachycardia. CONCLUSION: We conclude that external, noninvasive pacing is a feasible means of terminating supraventricular tachycardia in the ED setting.     

Infant affect and affect regulation during the still-face paradigm with mothers and fathers: the role of infant characteristics and parental sensitivity

This laboratory study examined mothers' and fathers' sensitivity during face-to-face interactions with their infants as well as infants' affective and regulatory responses during mother-infant versus father-infant still face (SF). The degree to which infant gender and temperament as well as parental sensitivity predicted SF responses was also examined. Participants included 94 healthy, primarily White, middle-class 4-month-olds and their parents. Results indicated that mothers and fathers were equally sensitive toward their infants. Infants' affect and regulatory behaviors were also significantly stable across mother- and father-infant SF situations, although several differences in mean levels of regulation emerged. Finally, the extent to which exogenous and endogenous variables predicted infant SF responses differed as a function of which affect or regulatory variable was being examined and with which parent the infant was experiencing SF.     

Fifteen years experience with finger arterial pressure monitoring: assessment of the technology

We review the Finapres technology, embodied in several TNO-prototypes and in the Ohmeda 2300 and 2300e Finapres NIBP. Finapres is an acronym for FINger Arterial PRESsure, the device delivers a continuous finger arterial pressure waveform. Many papers report on the accuracy of the device in comparison with intra-arterial or with noninvasive but intermittent blood pressure measurements. We compiled the results of 43 such papers and found systolic, diastolic and mean accuracies, in this order, ranging from -48 to 30 mmHg, from -20 to 18 mmHg, and from -13 to 25 mmHg. Weighted for the number of subjects included pooled accuracies were -0.8 (SD 11.9), -1.6 (8.3) and -1.6 (7.6) mmHg respectively. Subdividing the pooled group according to criteria such as reference blood pressure, place of application, and prototype or commercial device we found no significant differences in mean differences or SD. Measurement at the finger allows uninterrupted recordings of long duration. The transmission of the pressure pulse along the arm arteries, however, causes distortion of the pulse waveform and depression of the mean blood pressure level. These effects can be reduced by appropriate filtering, and upper arm 'return-to-flow' calibration to bring accuracy and precision within AAMI limits. For the assessment of beat-to-beat changes in blood pressure and assessment of blood pressure variability Finapres proved a reliable alternative for invasive measurements when mean and diastolic pressures are concerned. Differences in systolic pressure are larger and reach statistical significance but are not of clinical relevance. Finger arteries are affected by contraction and dilatation in relation to psychological and physical (heat, cold, blood loss, orthostasis) stress. Effects of these phenomena are reduced by the built-in Physiocal algorithm. However, full smooth muscle contraction should be avoided in the awake patient by comforting the patient, and covering the hand. Arterial state can be monitored by observing the behaviour of the Physiocal algorithm. We conclude that Finapres accuracy and precision usually suffice for reliable tracking of changes in blood pressure. Diagnostic accuracy may be achieved with future application of corrective measures.     

Long-term evaluation of the ventricular defibrillation energy requirement

INTRODUCTION: Defibrillation energy requirements in patients with nonthoracotomy defibrillators may increase within several months after implantation. However, the stability of the defibrillation energy requirement beyond 1 year has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to characterize the defibrillation energy requirement during 2 years of clinical follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-one consecutive patients with a biphasic nonthoracotomy defibrillation system underwent defibrillation energy requirement testing using a step-down technique (20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 J) during defibrillator implantation, and then 24 hours, 2 months, 1 year, and 2 years after implantation. The mean defibrillation energy requirement during these evaluations was 10.9+/-5.5 J, 12.3+/-7.3 J, 11.7+/-5.6 J, 10.2+/-4.0 J, and 11.7+/-7.4 J, respectively (P = 0.4). The defibrillation energy requirement was noted to have increased by 10 J or more after 2 years of follow-up in five patients. In one of these patients, the defibrillation energy requirement was no longer associated with an adequate safety margin, necessitating revision of the defibrillation system. There were no identifiable clinical characteristics that distinguished patients who did and did not develop a 10-J or more increase in the defibrillation energy requirement. CONCLUSION: The mean defibrillation energy requirement does not change significantly after 2 years of biphasic nonthoracotomy defibrillator system implantation. However, approximately 15% of patients develop a 10-J or greater elevation in the defibrillation energy requirement, and 3% may require a defibrillation system revision. Therefore, a yearly evaluation of the defibrillation energy requirement may be appropriate.     

Certified dental assistants. Dentistry''s newest professional category

The authors observed 224 patients with neglected forms of carcinoma of distal portions of the colon, 171 (76.3%) of them being considered to be operable. The character of operative interventions depended on neglect of the tumour process which was determined by its spread to the neighbouring organs and tissues. The endolymphatic antibacterial therapy through the inguinal lymph node allowed the perifocal inflammation to be controlled which made the ablation of the tumour and the involved lymph nodes easier. The veritable ingrowth of the tumour into the neighbouring organs and tissues was noted in 15.4% of the patients. Radical operations were performed on 128 patients (74.9%), the other patients were submitted to palliative operations. The strategy of surgical treatment must be based upon the detailed diagnosis of the tumour growth and adequate preoperative preparation including endolymphatic infusions of antibacterial medicine. It allows to increase the amount of radical interventions and widen the indications for performing sphincter-saving operations.     

Risk stratification using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Program

In an era of progressive cost containment and public scrutiny, the wisdom of aggressive surgical therapy for high-risk candidates has been questioned. At our center in the previous 24 months, 728 patients with coronary artery disease were entered into The Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database, and the hospital outcomes plus length of stay were analyzed. Patients were separated according to the predicted mortality based on the groupings in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database: 0 to 5% (453 patients); 5% to 10% (126 patients); 10% to 20% (96 patients); 20% to 30% (17 patients); and 30% and greater (36 patients). There was a close correlation with the predicted rates of mortality. Importantly, the preoperative risk stratification demonstrated a strong correlation with the significant morbidity and excessive length of stay in the highest-risk groups (predicted risk of 20% to > or = 30%). The incidences of the most common complications in the group with the highest predicted risk (> or = 30%) were 28%, renal failure; 33%, ventilator dependence; and 17%, cardiac arrest. In addition, at short-term follow-up (6 to 8 months), a 24.3% mortality was identified in patients with a predicted mortality that exceeded 20%. These data quantify the risks and morbidities associated with the care of seriously ill patients with coronary artery disease and demonstrate the need for professional and public discussions focusing on the association of a high preoperative risk status and the consumption of resources.     

In-Situ Analyzing the Influence of Thermoelectromagnetic Convection on the Nucleation Ahead of the Advancing Interface During Directional Solidification

Sn-3wt%Pb alloy was directionally solidified without and with a 0.08T transverse magnetic field(TMF),and real-time recorded by in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging.Results indicate that TMF shortened the distance from the location of nucleation to the advancing interface,and accelerated the growth rate of the equiaxed crystal,which caused the columnar-to-equiaxed transition(CET)finally.The thermoelectromagnetic convection(TEMC)in front of the interface and around the crystal’s dendritic branch should respond to changes of the distance and the growth rate.