Numbering in a competitive environment

The role of numbering in the provision of telecommunications has changed substantially since the introduction of competition in the provision of service. This article looks at the changes that have been driven by competition and some examples of the problems caused by a lack of clear public policy direction, and suggests a method in order to proceed to resolve this deficiency     

Spatial W-plasty full-thickness skin graft for neovaginal reconstruction

Although neovaginal reconstruction has achieved satisfactory results, there is still room for refinement and improvement. Despite its popularity, McIndoe's inlay split-thickness skin graft method still has several significant drawbacks. Here a new approach to neovaginal reconstruction by using a full-thickness skin graft displayed in the fashion of spatial W-plasty is described. Our idea combines the advantages of a full-thickness skin graft and Z-plasty principle in clinical practice. Four patients who had been reconstructed with this method had satisfactory results with minimal secondary contracture and unilateral linear groin scar. Three of them have married and enjoy sexual life without difficulties. The fourth patient has not married but shows no contracture in follow-up examinations. Since the result is encouraging, this method deserves wider clinical application.     

Effects of retinoic acid and estrogens on oxytocin gene expression in the rat uterus: in vitro and in vivo studies

We and others have previously identified functional estrogen (E) and retinoic acid (RA) response elements in the human and rat oxytocin (OT) gene promoters. Whereas there is no direct evidence for a significant role of E or RA in the regulation of rat hypothalamic OT gene expression, we have recently demonstrated that in vivo administration of E strongly stimulates uterine OT gene expression. Here, we show that in vivo administration of RA similarly induces a significant increase in uterine OT gene expression. Moreover, we report that the E and RA effects are reproducible in vitro. Using short-term uterine organ explant cultures derived from 18-day pregnant rats, we found that E (50 nM) and RA (0.4 nM) increased OT mRNA levels 5.2- and 3-fold, respectively, suggesting a direct action of these agents on uterine OT gene expression. Finally, we analyzed uterine E and RA receptor gene expression during pregnancy. Using semi-quantitative Northern blot analysis, we found that mRNAs encoding the E receptor, the RA receptor alpha and RA receptor beta are present in rat uterus and that their levels rise by 3.7-, 3.6- and 5.8-fold, respectively, between day 14 of gestation and term. Taken together, the data suggest that, at term, the rat uterus has an increased capacity to respond to E and RA, and that both agents may be involved in mediating the dramatic increase of OT mRNA accumulation observed in the uterus at term.