Does age of the host affect growth rates of skeletal malignancies?

Statistical analysis of bone tumor growth rates as a function of age at initiation of radiation-induced skeletal malignancies in our animal colony indicated that the p value for an association between these parameters was <0.05, suggesting a correlation in beagle dogs. The youngest animals appeared to exhibit the most slowly growing tumors, and the trend was toward more rapidly growing tumors with increasing age. Less effective immune systems in older animals were invoked as a possible explanation of this relationship.     

Genotoxic activity detected in soils from a hazardous waste site by the Ames test and an SOS colorimetric test

The pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were evaluated simultaneously using both arterial and venous plasma data in five rabbits after a rapid bolus intravenous (i.v.) dosing. Initial arterial to venous concentration ratios at 5 s after i.v. injection were the highest, with values of 27.1, 36.2, 36.6, 43.7 and 29.7 for rabbits 1-5, respectively. This could be the result of diffusion of vancomycin from the arterial plasma into the extravascular tissues. Both curves decayed in parallel at the terminal phase with the venous levels higher than the arterial levels by 23, 37, 34, 13 and 14% for rabbits 1-5, respectively. This difference could be the result of continuous release of vancomycin from the extravascular tissues to the venous blood. Detailed analysis showed differences in various pharmacokinetic parameters based on arterial and venous data. For example, values for venous Vc were 9.2, 11, 1.9, 7.2 and 8.8 times greater than the arterial values for rabbits 1-5, respectively. The values for both venous Vss and MRT were higher than those of the arterial values in all five rabbits studied. This could be due to more extensive distribution of vancomycin in the extravascular tissues. A plot of 1/Q (urine flow rate) versus 1/ClR of vancomycin yielded a straight line in rabbits 6-10, indicating that the renal clearance of vancomycin in rabbits is dependent upon urine flow.     

The protective effect of the nerve growth factor in exposing a nerve tissue culture to diphtheria toxin

Diphtheria toxin (1.10(-1)-1.10(-6) Lf/ml) was found to inhibit neurite extension in chick embryo dorsal root ganglia in vitro. If the nerve growth factor (60 ng/ml) was added with toxin in culture media the diphtheria toxin effect was decreased and the neurite outgrowth was compared with control. Protective effect of nerve growth factor by influence of diphtheria toxin may be used in new principles of diphtheria treatment.     

Interinstitutional comparison of frozen section consultations. A college of American Pathologists Q-Probes study of 90,538 cases in 461 institutions

OBJECTIVE: To assess concordant, discordant, and deferred diagnosis rates from frozen sections; to determine reasons for discordance; to identify pathologic processes associated with discordant diagnoses; to determine false-positive or false-negative rates for neoplasms; and to identify anatomic sites associated with discordant frozen section diagnoses. DESIGN: Q-Probes study of the College of American Pathologists. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred sixty-one institutions participating in the Q-Probes program from November 1, 1990, through March 31, 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concordant and discordant diagnosis rates. RESULTS: The frozen section concordance rate for diagnoses from the aggregate group was 98.58% and the discordance rate was 1.42%, when uncorrected for deferred diagnoses. During the study period, participating institutions accessioned 1,693,331 surgical pathology cases; 90,538 of these cases were evaluated by frozen section consultation, resulting in the examination of 121,668 specimens and 148,506 frozen section blocks. The majority of the frozen section discordances occurred because of misinterpretation of the original frozen section (31.8%), presence of diagnostic tissue in permanent sections of the frozen block when the frozen section was negative (30.0%), and presence of diagnostic tissue in the portion of the specimen not sampled by the frozen section (31.4%). Of the discordant diagnoses, 67.8% had false-negative diagnoses for neoplasm. The pathology processes and anatomic sites represented in discordant diagnoses are also evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: High diagnostic accuracy of frozen section consultations was demonstrated. Frozen sections are used to evaluate a variety of pathologic processes and anatomic sites.     

Novel naphthoquinones from Conospermum incurvum

During the reisolation of the trimeric naphthoquinone derivative conocurvone [1] from an extract of the Australian shrub Conospermum incurvum, six monomeric naphthoquinones were isolated. These include three novel 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives: 3-methyl-14,15-dihydro-15-hydroxyteretifolione B [3], 3-methyl-14,15-dihydro-15-hydroxyteretifolione B methyl ether [4], and 2,3-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone [5]. In addition, the previously reported compounds 3-methylteretifolione B [6], 3-methylteretifolione B methyl ether [7], and 8-geranyl-2,7-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone [8] were isolated and identified. The structures of the novel 1,4-naphthoquinones were elucidated by spectral methods. While conocurvone [1] is a potent inhibitor of HIV-1-induced cell killing, all of the monomeric naphthoquinone derivatives were inactive against HIV-1.     

Nonspecific resistance in patients with chronic gastritis undergoing treatment by drinking a calcium-sodium chloride low-mineralized mineral water

A Diabetes Care Management program was developed by PrimeCare, a network model HMO, to improve quality of life health outcomes and reduce the costs of medical care for its members with diabetes. The HMO used a systems-based approach to communicate information about appropriate self-management and standards of care to members and physicians. The focus of the program was to educate and encourage patients to self-manage their illness, and to partner with physicians, other health care providers and community organizations to achieve improved quality of life, clinical and financial results. Clinical process indicators were used to measure results of interventions. Significant increases in the percentage of participants receiving glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) tests, retinal eye exams and lipid panel tests were achieved.     

Experience in the undergraduate training of ophthalmologists

The authors present their experience gained in the training of ophthalmologists at the Chair of Ocular Diseases of the Krasnoyarsk Medical Institute. In 1991 the interns, instead of traditional state examinations, maintained their diploma research, which was assessed as their skills and knowledge in the field of ocular diseases, social hygiene, and public health organization. The authors prove that such diploma research is an integral part of undergraduate training and one of the types of individual work at higher educational institutions, and enumerate the topics of diploma research.