Spectrum of aerobic endurance running performance in eleven inbred strains of rats

Mice homozygous for a disruption in the Mdr2 gene (Mdr2 (-/-) mice) lack the Mdr2 P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the canalicular membrane of the hepatocyte and are unable to excrete phosphatidylcholine into the bile. These mice develop a nonsuppurative cholestatic liver disease, presumably caused by the high concentrations of free cytotoxic bile acids in bile. We generated transgenic mice that express the human homolog of Mdr2, MDR3, specifically in the liver by the use of an albumin promoter. In these mice the MDR3 P-gp is exclusively located in the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes and phospholipid excretion into bile is restored. Mice that contain the same amount of MDR3 P-gp as that of Mdr2 P-gp in wild-type mice, also excrete the same amount of phospholipids. No histopathological abnormalities were observed in the livers of these mice. In mice that express MDR3 at a higher or lower level, the phospholipid excretion correlated with the amount of MDR3 P-gp. We conclude that the human MDR3 P-gp is functionally homologous to the murine Mdr2 P-gp and that it can fully replace this P-gp in Mdr2 (-/-) mice, restoring the excretion of phospholipids into the bile. The phospholipid excretion is limited by the amount of MDR3 or Mdr2 P-gp. The excretion of cholesterol is not tightly coupled to the excretion of phospholipids in these mice, because a very low phospholipid excretion level is sufficient to give almost wild-type cholesterol excretion into the bile.     

Radiation doses in the population of the coastal area of the Kakhovsk Water Reservoir

Central and cerebral hemodynamics was studied using echocardiography and transcranial dopplerography in 200 poststroke patients over 60 in the course of 5-year follow-up. It was established that cardiac hypodynamic syndrome, i.e. continuous or paroxysmal fall of minute blood volume below 3 l, is the most significant contributing factor in the onset of cerebral ischemia. Drugs are recommended for prevention of ischemic stroke. Those lowering cardiac hemodynamic reserve should be excluded in patients at high risk of acute failure of cerebral circulation.     

The adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: an analysis of 57 cases in a black African population

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the findings in a large series of adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOT) in Nigerians. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospital records of all cases of AOT diagnosed at three teaching hospitals were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the tumors were intraosseous (central) (98.3%) and of the follicular type (75%). Females were more frequently affected than males (1.4:1), and patients in their second decade of life were most frequently affected (75%). Patients with follicular AOT were relatively younger (15.2 +/- 5.6 years) than those with extrafollicular tumors (20.9 +/- 13.8 years). However, males who presented with extrafollicular tumors (14.6 +/- 3.9 years) were relatively younger than their female counterparts (24.9 +/- 16 years). The maxilla was affected nearly twice as often as the mandible (1.8:1), and the canine tooth was frequently embedded in the tumor (76.9%). Although follicular tumors were most frequently located in the maxilla (76.3%), extrafollicular tumors were more commonly found in the mandible (69.2%). CONCLUSION: The distribution of this tumor in black Africans does not appear to be substantially different from that reported in caucasians.     

Consequences of the ambivalence about openness and transparency]

Personnel at the general intensive care unit at the University of Heidelberg Children's Hospital aim for a maximum of openness and transparency for parents regarding everything relevant to their own child. In this context ward nurses were interviewed about diverse aspects of their work. Aside from technical-medical activities, nurses regarded the relationship to the parents to be a central point in their work. The recognize that the relationship to the parents influences the relationship to the child and partially even the nursing of the child. Nurses are in favor of openness and transparency in relating to parents, however, reality reveals contradictions. Nurses differentiated attitude and the consequences for physicians, psychologists and parents are discussed. A case example is presented.     

A new silver sulfadiazine water soluble gel

Silver sulfadiazine is the most commonly used topical antibacterial agent for the treatment of burn wounds. It has many clinical advantages, including a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, low toxicity, and minimal pain on application. The current formulation of silver sulfadiazine contains a lipid soluble carrier, polypropylene glycol, that has certain disadvantages, including pseudo-eschar formation and the need for twice daily application. The purpose of this investigation was to describe a new formulation of silver sulfadiazine in a water soluble gel, poloxamer 188. The antibacterial activity of this new gel has been compared to that of the commercially available silver sulfadiazine cream by in vitro and in vivo testing. The results of the in vitro antibacterial testing of these two different agents demonstrated the superiority of the new gel formulation. In experimental wounds, the antibacterial activity of the gel and the commercially available silver sulfadiazine cream were not significantly different when applied once a day. The antibacterial activity of the gel when applied once a day was comparable to that encountered by twice daily applications of the silver sulfadiazine cream by experimental wounds. The major advantage of this gel was its ease of application and removal that is attributed to its water solubility.