Superior efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B with prolonged circulation in blood in the treatment of severe candidiasis in leukopenic mice

In leukopenic mice with severe systemic candidiasis, single-dose treatment (5 mg of amphotericin B [AMB]/kg of body weight) with long-circulating polyethylene glycol-coated AMB liposomes (PEG-AMB-LIP) resulted in zero mortality and a significant reduction in the number of viable Candida albicans in the kidney, whereas 70% mortality was seen in mice treated with five daily doses of AmBisome (5 mg of AMB/kg . day). When the first of five daily doses of AmBisome was combined with a single low dose of Fungizone (0.1 mg of AMB/kg), the efficacy was equal to that of PEG-AMB-LIP.     

IS-RT-PCR assay detection of MT-MMP in a human breast cancer cell line

The effect of the host system on the pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and antigenicity of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was investigated. One classic (SAL) and one variant strain (IN) of IBDV were passaged separately six times in three host systems, namely BGM-70 continuous cell line, primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells, or embryonating chicken eggs (embryos) or one time in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Passage in BGM-70 cells or CEF cells resulted in loss of pathogenicity, but viruses passaged in embryos or BF maintained their pathogenicity. For the immunogenicity study, the viruses described above were used to prepare live and inactivated vaccines, containing 10(3) mean embryo infectious doses (EID50s) and 10(5) EID50s respectively. These vaccines induced different levels of protection. It was concluded that the antigen titration methodology employing embryonating chicken eggs was not suitable for titration of viruses propagated in other host systems because of varying degrees of adaptation and/or pathogenicity of the viruses resulting in variability in antigen mass of the tested vaccines. To test this assumption, an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used as a titration system to compare the antigenicity of viruses propagated in BGM-70 cells or BF. Preparations containing similar antigen masses were inactivated then inoculated into two age groups of SPF chickens and antibody titers were monitored. During the experimental period, the geometric mean virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody titers of the vaccinated groups did not differ significantly (P > 0.05).     

Femininity, bulimia, and distress in college women

This study investigated differences in the scores on perceived Distress and Bulimia among college women with varying scores on the Behavioral Self-report of Femininity. Distress was assessed using The Psychological Distress Inventory and Bulimia was measured using the Bulimia Cognitive Distortions Scale. Women who reported low numbers of stereotypic feminine behaviors scored lower on the Bulimia Cognitive Distortions Scale than women reporting moderate to high numbers of stereotypic feminine behaviors. Distress scores were not significantly different between women scoring high and low on Bulimic Cognitive Distortions, and Bulimic Cognitive Distortion scores did not vary as a function of scores on Distress and Femininity. A multiple regression indicated that one factor of the Behavioral Self-report of Femininity, Social Connectedness, made a significant contribution to the prediction of Bulimia scores.     

Radiologic emphysema morphology is associated with outcome after surgical lung volume reduction

BACKGROUND: Lung volume reduction surgery is known to alleviate dyspnea and to improve pulmonary function, performance in daily activity, and quality of life in selected patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. We investigated the role of radiologically assessed emphysema morphology on functional outcome after a lung volume reduction operation. METHODS: The preoperative chest computed tomograms in 50 consecutive patients who had undergone surgical lung volume reduction were retrospectively reviewed by 6 physicians blinded to the clinical outcome. Emphysema morphology was determined according to a simplified classification (ie, homogeneous, moderately heterogeneous, and markedly heterogeneous; lobe predominance). We studied the impact of these morphologic aspects on functional outcome at 3 months. RESULTS: We found a fair interobserver agreement applying our classification system. Functional improvement after surgical lung volume reduction was best in markedly heterogeneous emphysema with an increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 81% +/- 17% (mean +/- standard error, n = 17) compared with 44% +/- 10% (n = 16) for intermediately heterogeneous emphysema. But also in patients with homogeneous emphysema clinical relevant improvement of function could be observed (increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second = 34% +/- 6%; n = 17). CONCLUSIONS: The morphologic type of emphysema, assessed by a simplified surgically oriented classification, is an important predictor of surgical outcome. Lung volume reduction surgery may also improve dyspnea and lung function in homogeneous emphysema.     

Improving breastfeeding support: a community health improvement project

BACKGROUND: Because of the brevity of the postpartum hospital stay, mothers and their newborns are discharged home before breastfeeding is well established. In 1992, feedback from patients who had given birth at Fletcher Allen Health Care (Burlington, VT) suggested a need for more consistent, expert, and timely assistance with breastfeeding in the hospital and better continuity of care during the first few weeks at home. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TEAM: In 1993 a team developed objectives, analyzed the problem and possible solutions, and made eight recommendations on how the hospital could do more to promote breastfeeding. Implementation by team members and hospital staff included policy development, staff education, acquisition of funding, a visiting professorship, development of a lactation consultant coordinator and team, and patient surveys to evaluate the program. A late 1994 survey of 63 postpartum patients on their day of discharge indicated a high level of satisfaction with breastfeeding support in the hospital. CURRENT STATUS: Activities are being undertaken for lactation consultation coverage, further policy development, implementation of nurse competency validation, improved patient and family education materials, and continued evaluation of the breastfeeding support program through patient surveys. CONCLUSION: In the face of barriers such as the project's large scope, a paucity of internal team members, and a large number and variety of recommendations, some of the recommendations and follow-up plans have yet to be implemented. Yet the project has yielded improvements in care and provides a model of how hospitals can expand their traditional boundaries of care and quality improvement into community health issues.     

In vitro toxicity of methyl mercury to fathead minnow cells

We have reported previously that serotonin (5-HT) stimulates the mitogenesis of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) through active transport of 5-HT and cellular signaling that includes elevation of superoxide (O2.-) and enhancement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Ginkgo biloba extract 501 (EGb 501), which has been demonstrated to act as an antioxidant, was found to block both the elevated O2.- and the proliferative and hypertrophic influences of 5-HT on SMCs, but not to directly inhibit the associated activation of NAD(P)H oxidase or the stimulation of phosphorylation of GTPase-activating protein (GAP). A similar effect of Ginkgo biloba extract 501 occurred on Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (CCL-39), where 5-HT receptor, as opposed to transporter, action has been associated with mitogenesis. We conclude from these studies that Ginkgo biloba extract 501 quenches O2.- formation by 5-HT, thereby blocking its mitogenic effect. Stimulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation of GAP by 5-HT appears to precede the elevation of O2.-.