Treatment of severe rigid contractures of cerebral palsied upper limbs

Flexion contractures caused by cerebral palsy in adult patients can become so rigid and so severe that skin breakdown and infection on the flexor surfaces of the palm and elbow can result. In 11 such patients we have utilized tendon resections, ray amputations, elbow resection arthroplasties and other techniques to correct deformities. Because improvement of hygiene and not functional rehabilitation was the goal in these patients, these aggressive measures could be utilized more freely than usual without fear of jeopardizing the patient's ability to use the hand post-operatively. Treatment of combined intrinsic and extrinsic contracture usually required resection of the sublimi and metacarpal head resection. Thumb-in-palm deformities were difficult to correct and required osteotomies of the first metacarpal or greater multangular resection. Elbow resection was useful in correcting flexion deformities of that joint but deformity recurred unless the biceps tendon was released as part of the procedure.     

Influence of morphine on protein synthesis in discrete subcellular fractions of the rat brain

An attempt was made to induce conflict behavior in rabbits by conditioning under hypothalamic electrical stimulation. Behavioral analysis was performed using our newly devised technique which employs the use of a vibration apparatus fixed to head and waist, and a recording of various behavior. Conditioning was carried out by sensory stimuli flight behavior. Reinforcement was as follows: the CS used was flickering light photic (10 Hz, 10 musec.,) and acoustic (250 Hz, 15 dB) and UCS electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 1 msec., not exceeding 2 v) in the medial hypothalamic area and peri-fornix. The restrained animals were placed on a table in an acoustically isolated room with a discrete monotonous background noise. CRs were obtained within a short time as were responses: (1) During the autonomicsomatic responses, (2) continuous run and (3) non-continuous run. Data obtained during the non-continuous run represent a conflict-induced type of behavior which may be applied in studies related to the psychopharmacological actions of drugs.     

Experimental infection of axenic mice by "Yersinia enterocolitica" (author's transl)

Although most of Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from man have no pathogenicity for laboratory animals, it has been demonstrated that some strains are pathogenic for conventional mice and that most of the strains are probably pathogenic for Nude mice. The authors report the results of the infection of germ-free mice with a strain of Y. enterocolitica which is non pathogenic for holoxenic mice. It appears that C3H/He mice are sensitive to the infection by gavage or aerogenic and peritoneal routes. They all die within 8 to 12 days after injection of an inoculum of 5.10(5) viable cells. Germ-free NCS mice were also sensitive to the oral and aerogenic infection but not to the peritoneal infection; the difference between C3H/He and NCS sensitivity to this way of infection could be explained by a higher bactericidal activity of the peritoneal phagocytes of the latter. The C3H/He and NCS holoxenic control mice infected with the same inoculum of the same strain, did not show any symptoms and all attempts to isolate Y. enterocolitica failed three months after the challenge. Germ-free mice killed by the infection showed histopathological findings, i.e. abscesses involving intestinal wall. liver and spleen; they were similar to those described in experiments with pathogenic strains for conventional mice (holoxenic) and to those observed in infection of athymic Nude mice with strains non pathogenic for conventional mice. This infectious disease model is discussed in regards to the natural human infection.     

Evaluation of the optimal duration of chemotherapy in phase II trials for inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal duration of chemotherapy in phase II trials for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The time from start of treatment until achievement of response according to WHO criteria was determined retrospectively in 8 phase II trials. RESULTS: Response to chemotherapy consisting of 4 complete and 39 partial remissions was registered in 43 of 333 patients. The median time from treatment start to response was 54 days. On day 84 on-study, 35 of the responding patients (81%) had achieved the response. Forty-three responses (98%) had occurred by day 168 and only one patient (2%) accomplished a response after 168 days of treatment. The responses had a median duration of 151 days (range 28-1559 days). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that patients with NSCLC included in phase II trials who have not yet achieved a response to chemotherapy after 168 days on study have a low likelihood (2%) of a subsequent response. Hence, treatment cessation at this point should be considered for non-responding patients. Continuation of treatment from day 84 to day 168 resulted in response in only 7 patients out of the total of 43 responses noted (16%). Thus, the toxic effects of the chemotherapy in addition to the inconvenience of hospital visits renders it questionable whether it is worthwhile to continue treatment in patients with inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer beyond day 84 in the absence of response.     

A comparison of hospital- and community-based mental health nurses: perceptions of their work environment and psychological health

This study compares hospital- (n = 67) and community-based (n = 55) mental health nurses in relation to their perceptions of the work environment and also their psychological health. Measures include: the General Health Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Work Environment Scale. The data, obtained from self-returned questionnaires, show that community nurses rated their work environments higher for the dimensions of Involvement, Supervisor Support, Autonomy, Innovation and Work Pressure. Hospital nurses saw their environments as being higher in (managerial) Control. There were no differences between the groups for the dimensions of Peer Cohesion, Task Orientation, Clarity or (physical) Comfort. Furthermore, there were no overall differences between the two groups in relation to psychological health, although the pattern of factors associated with emotional well-being differed. Finally, analyses of the community data revealed that those nurses with 'flexitime' arrangements evaluated their work environments less positively and showed higher levels of psychological strain than did those working 'fixed-time' schedules. The findings suggest that the hospital and community environments make different demands on nursing staff, and that this should be considered when organizing nursing services if stress is to be avoided.     

The effect of UW solution and its components on the collagenase digestion of human and porcine pancreas

Miropeats displays DNA sequence similarity information graphically. The program discovers regions of similarity amongst any set of DNA sequences and then draws a graphic that summarizes the length, location and relative orientations of any repeated sequences. Sequence similarity searching is a very general tool that forms the basis of many different biological sequence analyses but it is limited by the verbosity of traditional alignment presentation styles. Miropeats enhances the utility of conventional DNA sequence comparisons when looking at long lengths of sequence similarity by summarizing large-scale sequence similarities on a single page of PostScript graphics. Miropeats has been applied estensively to help understand shotgun assembly projects, to check cosmid overlaps and to perform inter-genomic comparisons.     

The cloning and chromosomal mapping of two novel human opioid-somatostatin-like receptor genes, GPR7 and GPR8, expressed in discrete areas of the brain

Following the cloning of the opioid receptors mu, kappa, and delta, we conducted a search for related receptors. Using oligonucleotides based on the opioid and also the structurally related somatostatin receptors, we amplified genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction and isolated fragments of novel G protein-coupled receptor genes. Two of these gene fragments designated clones 12 and 11 were used to isolate the full-length genes. The intronless coding sequences of these genes, named GPR7 and GPR8, shared 70% identity with each other, and each shared significant similarity with the sequences encoding transmembrane regions of the opioid and somatostatin receptors. GPR7 was mapped to chromosome 10q11.2-q21.1 and GPR8 to chromosome 20q13.3. Northern blot analysis using human mRNA demonstrated expression of GPR7 mainly in cerebellum and frontal cortex, while GPR8 was located mainly in the frontal cortex. In situ hybridization revealed expression of GPR7 in the human pituitary. A partial sequence of the mouse orthologue of GPR7 was obtained, and in situ hybridization demonstrated expression in discrete nuclei of brain, namely suprachiasmatic, arcuate, and ventromedial nuclei of hypothalamus. A stable cell line expressing the GPR7 gene was created, but expression levels of the receptor were low. The available pharmacology indicated binding to several opioid drugs such as bremazocine, levorphanol, and beta-FNA, but not to the opioid receptor subtype-selective mu, delta, or kappa agonists.     

Cloning, expression, and chromosome mapping of human galectin-7

The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Here we report the cloning and expression of a novel member of this family (galectin-7) that correspond to IEF (isoelectric focusing) 17 (12,700 Da; pI, 7.6) in the human keratinocyte protein data base, and that is strikingly down-regulated in SV40 transformed keratinocytes (K14). The cDNA was cloned from a lambda gt11 cDNA expression library using degenerated oligodeoxyribonucleotides back-translated from an IEF 17 peptide sequence. The protein encoded by the galectin-7 clone comigrated with IEF 17 as determined by two-dimensional (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) analysis of proteins expressed by transiently transfected COS-1 cells, and bound lactose. Alignment of the amino acid sequences with other members of the family showed that the amino acids central to the beta-galactoside interaction are conserved. Galectin-7 was partially externalized to the medium by keratinocytes although it has no typical secretion signal peptide. Immunoblotting as well as immunofluorescence analysis of human tissues with a specific galectin-7 antibody revealed a narrow distribution of the protein which was found mainly in stratified squamous epithelium. The antigen localized to basal keratinocytes, although it was also found, albeit at lower levels, in the suprabasal layers where it concentrated to areas of cell to cell contact. Both, its cellular localization as well as its striking down-regulation in K14 keratinocytes imply a role in cell-cell and/or cell-matrix interactions necessary for normal growth control. The galectin-7 gene was mapped to chromosome 19.     

Uptake of 4-toluene sulfonate by Comamonas testosteroni T-2

The mechanism of transport of the xenobiotic 4-toluene sulfonate (TS) in Comamonas testosteroni T-2 was investigated. Rapid uptake of TS was observed only in cells grown with TS or 4-methylbenzoate as a carbon and energy source. Initial uptake rates under aerobic conditions showed substrate saturation kinetics, with an apparent affinity constant (Kt) of 88 microM and a maximal velocity (Vmax) of 26.5 nmol/min/mg of protein. Uptake of TS was inhibited completely by uncouplers and only marginally by ATPase inhibitors and the phosphate analogs arsenate and vanadate. TS uptake was also studied under anaerobic conditions, which prevented intracellular TS metabolism. TS was accumulated under anaerobic conditions in TS-grown cells upon imposition of an artificial transmembrane pH gradient (delta pH, inside alkaline). Uptake of TS was inhibited by structurally related methylated and chlorinated benzenesulfonates and benzoates. The results provide evidence that the first step in the degradation of TS by C. testosteroni T-2 is uptake by an inducible secondary proton symport system.