Quantitation of vancomycin and its crystalline degradation product (CDP-1) in human serum by high performance liquid chromatography

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients represent a difficult problem, sometimes to establish the diagnosis but mostly because of their refractoriness to standard lymphoma treatments. Which treatments to apply and to whom is not yet defined. In this study, we attempted to analyze the clinical features, to identify the major prognostic factors, and to evaluate the outcome of 121 MCL patients treated in our institution between 1979 and 1997. Clinical data, treatment modalities, and International Prognostic Index (IPI) score were evaluated. Median age was 63 years. Patients usually presented with advanced stage disease (87%), disseminated lymph nodes (57%), bone marrow involvement (79%), but with a good performance status (PS) (81%). Lymphocytosis >4000/microl and/or peripheral blood involvement was present in 36% of cases, and gastrointestinal disease in 18%. The t(11;14)(q13;q32) and/or bcl-1 rearrangement was detected in 47/57 studied cases. Median overall survival (OS) was 3.12 years and a longer survival was significantly associated with younger age (<70 years), good PS (<2), localized disease (stage I-II), fewer than two extra-nodal sites, absence of spleen or peripheral blood involvement, normal serum LDH and beta2-microglobulin levels, and hemoglobin level greater than 12 g/dl. However, the IPI failed to identify patients with longer OS and in a multiparametric analysis, only older age, hemoglobin less than 12 g/dl, poor PS, and blood involvement were associated with a poorer outcome. Treatment modalities had no impact on survival with 75% of patients relapsing or progressing. Our data showed that the poor outcome of MCL patients is mainly related to adverse patient characteristics, a highly disseminated tumor, and some unknown parameters associated with the refractoriness to standard therapy.     

NO/cGMP pathway is involved in exocrine secretion from rat pancreatic acinar cells

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with the initiation of breast-feeding in a predominantly Puerto Rican population living in inner-city Hartford, Conn. DESIGN: Retrospective study of 144 Latino women (mean +/- standard deviation age = 26.3 +/- 5.7 years) with children at least 1 year old but younger than 6 years old (mean +/- standard deviation age = 3.0 +/- 1.2 years) at the time of the survey. Women were recruited from agencies sponsoring health programs for mothers and children. They were interviewed in their homes (69%) or at the Hispanic Health Council, Hartford, Conn (31%). SUBJECTS/SETTING: Low-income Latino women who had at least 1 preschooler at the time of the interview. The women lived in inner-city Hartford, and the overwhelming majority were Puerto Rican and received welfare assistance and food stamps. Seventy-eight percent of the women chose to be interviewed in Spanish; the other 22% were interviewed in English. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Explanatory variables that related to breast-feeding initiation (P < or = .2) in bivariate chi 2 analyses were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model that was reduced using backward stepwise elimination procedures. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses indicated that breast-feeding the previous child, shorter length of maternal residence in the United States, not receiving prenatal bottle-feeding advice, more recent birth, and higher birth weight were positively associated with breast-feeding initiation. A major reason for choosing not to breast-feed was that women felt socially uncomfortable doing it. APPLICATIONS: Breast-feeding initiation was more likely in Latino women who received prenatal breast-feeding counselling and postpartum support. Mothers of low-birth-weight infants and women breast-feeding for the first time may need additional help. These findings can be used by programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to increase breast-feeding initiation.     

Interstate forensic psychology consultations: A call for reform and proposal of a model rule.

Forensic psychology has made important gains in professional recognition and stature in the courts, resulting in increasing demands for mobility of expertise. Current regulations regarding the interjurisdictional temporary forensic practice of psychology, however, are characterized by variability of regulations, ambiguity and inaccessibility, and continuing total barriers. A uniform, well-reasoned policy is needed. A conceptual basis for such a policy is provided by a discussion of licensing rationales and the application of these to forensic practice. Uniformity, public and professional protection, and practicability are identified as fundamental regulatory criteria. A Model Rule Regarding the Temporary Forensic Practice of Psychology is proposed for adoption by state licensing boards on a nationwide basis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral and pharmacologic approaches to smoking cessation

Cigarette smoking continues to be the single, most preventable cause of death and disability in the United States. For individuals who have cancer, continuing to smoke negatively impacts their treatment, survival, and risk for second primary tumors. This review of behavioral and pharmacological approaches to smoking cessation focuses on the recent comprehensive review of cessation interventions by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), as well as on new developments in the field. An intervention model is outlined that provides oncologists with a brief and easily implemented method of systematically treating patients who smoke. By assessing patient smoking status, advising smoking patients to quit, and proactively assisting their patients in quitting, oncologists can significantly influence patient health and fulfill their professional and ethical responsibility to address this life-threatening behavior.     

Toxoplasma gondii recombinant antigens H4 and H11: use in ELISAs for detection of toxoplasmosis in swine

The prevalence of elevated blood lead (PbB) levels in rural and semi-urban areas of Kwazulu/Natal (KZN) as well as the risk factors for elevation of PbB among children in informal settlements are examined. The study involved over 1200 children in two age groups: 3-5 and 8-10 years old. Average PbB level in Besters, an informal settlement in the Durban metropolitan region, was 10 micrograms/dl with 5% of the children showing PbB level of greater than 25 micrograms/dl. By comparison, average PbB value in Vulamehlo, a rural area located 90-120 km from Durban, was 3.8 micrograms/dl and 2% of the PbB was greater than 10 micrograms/dl. The results show that many children in KZN are at risk of being lead poisoned. Household factors that were significantly associated with PbB levels in children included distance from tarred roads, overcrowding, hygienic habits in the household and the burning of solid wastes for heating or cooking. Lack of significant association with child risk behaviors is attributed to the over-riding influence of high levels of contaminated dusts both indoor and outdoor. With recent introduction of unleaded gasoline in South Africa, a number of unique socio-ecological factors are expected to slow the change in PbB levels of children in some townships.     

Disposition of aerosolized liposomal amphotericin B

Amphotericin B (AmB) is an important drug for the treatment of fungal infection, but toxicity limits the lung tissue doses which may be achieved through intravenous administration. Although incorporation of AmB in liposomes reduces these effects and increases the therapeutic index for intravenous administration, targeted delivery to lung tissues via inhaled liposomal AmB aerosol may be a more effective approach. Aerosolization of liposomal amphotericin B targets the lungs, the organs first infested by many fungi. Development of optimal aerosolized liposomal AmB therapies requires a better understanding of the effect that liposome surface charge has on lung clearance kinetics. In this work we evaluated the clearance kinetics and organ distribution of inhaled liposomal AmB in male Balb/C mice. Mice were exposed via nose only to AmB-containing liposomal aerosols having positive, negative, or neutral surface charge characteristics. The formulations were aerosolized using a Collison nebulizer. Groups of animals were euthanized at predetermined times and the lungs and other organs were analyzed for AmB. AmB was not detected in serum and other organs such as kidneys, liver, and brain. The disposition of neutral and positive liposomal amphotericin B in lungs followed biexponential kinetics. The alpha and beta phase half-lives for positive liposomes were 1.3 and 15.1 days, respectively, and 2.3 and 22 days for neutral liposomes. AmB delivered via negative liposomes exhibited monoexponential clearance with a half-life of 4.5 days. These results suggest that toxic side effects in nontarget tissues are minimal and may indicate a potential for long term protection against fungal infections.     

Gas-phase and transpiration-driven mechanisms for volatilization through wetland macrophytes

Natural and constructed wetlands have gained attention as potential tools for remediation of shallow sediments and groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Wetland macrophytes are known to enhance rates of contaminant removal via volatilization, but the magnitude of different volatilization mechanisms, and the relationship between volatilization rates and contaminant physiochemical properties, remain poorly understood. Greenhouse mesocosm experiments using the volatile tracer sulfur hexafluoride were conducted to determine the relative magnitudes of gas-phase and transpiration-driven volatilization mechanisms. A numerical model for vegetation-mediated volatilization was developed, calibrated with tracer measurements, and used to predict plant-mediated volatilization of common VOCs as well as quantify the contribution of different volatilization pathways. Model simulations agree with conclusions from previous work that transpiration is the main driver for volatilization of VOCs, but also demonstrate that vapor-phase transport in wetland plants is significant, and can represent up to 50% of the total flux for compounds with greater volatility like vinyl chloride.     

Characteristics of GdGaO grown by MBE

Ga₂O₃/GdGaO dielectric stacks have been grown on GaAs for MOSFETs. This paper highlights variations in the characteristics of GdGaO as the Gd flux, Ga₂O flux and substrate temperature are changed. The growth rate, composition, crystallinity are discussed and the sheet resistance of final MOSFET structures are presented. The Gd compositional variation with depth is examined using Rutherford back scattering (RBS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).     

The short of it: Abbreviating the temporal discounting procedure.

A typical temporal discounting procedure determines the present, subjective value (indifference point) of a delayed outcome at 5 to 8 different delays to that outcome. These indifference points are used to determine a single index of discounting called a discounting rate. One concern that remains in the collection of this data is the high number of trials or choices, resulting in participant fatigue or other factors that may affect the validity of the data. In this report, we propose an abbreviated alternative to the more comprehensive and time-consuming discounting procedure. Specifically, we propose that fewer indifference points can be used to determine statistically equivalent discount rates with no loss in data sensitivity. We reanalyzed temporal discounting data obtained with 7 indifference points, and estimated discount rates from all combinations of 2, 3, and 4 of the 7 indifference points. Results indicate that valid and sensitive discounting indices can be obtained with fewer indifference points, and the most appropriate sets of indifference points are highlighted. The proposed abbreviated procedure is likely to be particularly useful when time constraints or participant fatigue is a concern as well as in repeated-measures contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

ModerateDrinking.Com and moderation management: Outcomes of a randomized clinical trial with non-dependent problem drinkers.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based protocol, ModerateDrinking.com (MD; www.moderatedrinking.com) combined with use of the online resources of Moderation Management (MM; www.moderation.org) as opposed to the use of the online resources of MM alone. Method: We randomly assigned 80 problem drinkers to either the experimental or control group with follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Seventy-five participants (94%) had outcome data at 1 or more follow-up points, and 59 participants (73%) were assessed at all 3 follow-ups. Comparing baseline measures to the average outcomes at follow-ups indicated a significant overall reduction in both groups in alcohol-related problems and consumption variables. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had better outcomes on percent days abstinent. There was an interaction between intensity of drinking at baseline and treatment in determining outcomes assessing drinking. Less heavy drinkers in the experimental group had better outcomes on log mean blood alcohol content (BAC) per drinking day compared with the control group. Heavier drinkers did not differentially benefit from the MD program on this measure. Mixed model analyses in general corroborated these outcomes. Conclusion: The outcome data provide partial evidence for the effectiveness of the MD web application combined with MM, compared with the effectiveness of the resources available online at MM by themselves. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)