Mutational activation of the Cpx signal transduction pathway of Escherichia coli suppresses the toxicity conferred by certain envelope-associated stresses

Anticipation and suspicion are critical aspects to any discussion of intrauterine adhesions. Curettage between the second and fourth week postpartum is more likely to cause adhesions than is any other endometrial trauma. Infertility, recurrent abortion, or menstrual aberrations after any uterine trauma should cause the physician to suspect the presence of intrauterine adhesions. Hysterosalpingography and hysteroscopy are the ideal methods to make the diagnosis of IUA, and the latter is the safest, least traumatic, and most precise method of treating adhesions. The addition of an intrauterine splint and high-dose estrogen therapy completes the therapeutic approach. Before attempting conception the cavity should be inspected to verify its normality.     

Computer use by dentists and dental team members

Melanocytic naevi on the face and neck of 110 Brisbane secondary school students aged 16-17 years were mapped according to specified regions to investigate the dose-response relationship between ultraviolet (UV) radiation and melanocytic naevi. Highest naevus density occurred in regions receiving a mean UV dose of 0.2-0.4 relative to the vertex while densities were low in minimally and maximally exposed regions. This pattern of naevus distribution was unaffected by sex or phenotypic features such as skin colour or degree of freckling. These findings suggest that there is a narrow dose range over which UV radiation can effectively promote the proliferation of melanocytes. A comparison of the regional distribution of naevi on the face and neck with that of solar keratoses appearing over 1 year on the heads of residents of a neighbouring town has shown them to differ significantly. This study may shed some light on the unknown, yet expectedly complex, relation of UV radiation to melanocytic naevi.     

Skin cancers at Tertiary Referral Skin Hospital in Singapore

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the seventh most common cancer in Singapore. This study was performed to determine the pattern of skin cancers seen in a tertiary referral skin hospital. METHODS: Histologically confirmed skin cancers, seen between 1980 and 1991, were analyzed according to age, sex, race, site, and presence/absence of preexisting skin conditions. RESULTS: Of a total of 520 patients, the commonest skin cancer was basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (36.5%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (24.4%), Bowen's disease (16.7%), and mycosis fungoides (9.0%). Malignant melanomas (2.7%) were rare. The sharp increase (26.2%) in BCC in the recent 3 years was largely contributed by a fivefold increase of non-resident Caucasian patients with BCC. All types of skin cancers were more common in Chinese (78.1%) and less frequent in the more pigmented races (9.4%). The men to women ratio was 1.72:1. The peak age distribution was in the 51-70-year group, with the exception of mycosis fungoides (31-50 years). The commonest site involved in BCC was the head and neck (67.0%) and in Bowen's disease the trunk (33.3%). Squamous cell carcinoma was found on the head and neck and the lower extremities with equal frequency (29.3%) and 46.2% of all SCC on the lower extremities occurred in leprosy patients with chronic trophic ulcers. Of patients with Bowen's disease involving the nonsunexposed parts (trunk and upper extremities), 42.6% had probable arsenic exposure evident either from the history or clinical examination. Malignant melanomas were commonly located on the foot (71.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The commonest skin cancers seen were BCC, SCC, Bowen's disease, and mycosis fungoides. There were differences in the site distribution of SCC, Bowen's disease, and malignant melanomas in our study when compared to studies in Caucasians.     

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) are biologically engineered proteins designed to bind to antigens emanating from tumor cells. Selected radioactive isotopes are fused with MoAbs to allow radioimmunodetection of external imaging of metastatic deposits in patients with colon cancer. For the past 10 years, radiolabeled MoAbs have improved tumor localization techniques and influenced the clinical management of surgical patients. Intraoperatively, surgeons use appropriately shielded, handheld, gamma detection probes to locate radiolabeled MoAbs and corresponding colon cancers (ie, residual, recurrent tumors). Using gamma detection probes intraoperatively, surgeons can localize nonpalpable occult tumors and disease not suspected from external antibody scans or other traditional diagnostic methods. This success confirms the need for complete tumor resections, thorough scanning of entire tumor beds, and ex vivo scanning of surgical specimens to assess for potential nodal metastases.     

Ketamine as an adjunct to morphine in the treatment of pain

A double-blind multidose trial of the addition of ketamine (0-40 mg, i.m., 8 times per day) to intramuscular morphine therapy was undertaken in a 61-year-old man with chronic back pain related to osteoporosis who had received inadequate pain relief from anterior interbody fusion, dorsal column stimulation and morphine alone. The patient reported only mild side effects. Nausea, tiredness and well-being were not significantly influenced by the ketamine dose level. Visual analogue pain scores prior to each dose were not associated with the ketamine dose level, but pain scores 30 min after doses were significantly reduced in a dose-related manner. In addition, the amount of morphine used by the patient was significantly reduced as the ketamine dose increased. This patient experienced substantial benefit from the addition of ketamine to intramuscular morphine therapy.     

Localization of the ROMK potassium channel to the apical membrane of distal nephron in rat kidney

BACKGROUND: The apical potassium (K+) channels mediate K+ recycling in thick ascending limb (TAL) and K+ secretion in cortical collecting duct (CCD). Recently, the cDNAs for a family of renal K+ channels, ROMK1, -2 and -3, were identified. Based on the biophysical properties and mRNA distribution, it is believed that these ROMK cDNAs encode the apical K+ channels of TAL and CCD. However, the information for cellular and subcellular localization of the ROMK proteins in these tubules is still not available. METHODS: Paraffin or frozen kidney sections from adult Sprague-Dawley rats were stained by polyclonal antibodies against the N- and C-terminal domain of ROMK. Immunoreactive staining was visualized by color development from horseradish peroxidase reaction. Membrane homogenates from kidney were analyzed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The polyclonal antibodies against cytoplasmic epitope of ROMK recognized a approximately 42 kD protein in the membrane homogenates from kidney, but not from liver. Staining by immunocytochemistry revealed that ROMK channels were localized to the apical membranes of the distal nephron in cortex and outer medulla, including thick ascending limb and collecting tubule. ROMK staining was absent in glomerulus, proximal tubule and inner medulla. Double staining of the tissue section with both ROMK-specific and H+-ATPase-specific antibodies revealed labeling of ROMK in the principal cells of the collecting tubules. CONCLUSIONS: These results further strengthen the idea that ROMK channels play important roles in the recycling of K+ in TAL and the secretion of K+ in CCD.