Endocrine factors associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion

The role of endocrine factors as a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion is controversial. Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease do not represent a significant risk factor for recurrent pregnancy loss. Luteal-phase defect has been questioned because there are no accurate methods for diagnosis and no convincing evidence of correction with treatment exists. The corpus luteum is an unusual endocrine gland, highly diverse in function and important for successful reproduction in all mammalian species. Much controversy exists about the luteal function in humans and how defects in luteal function affects reproduction. Disagreement has been due to lack of accurate diagnosis and controlled studies to determine whether correction of the luteal-phase defect is worthwhile when treating female reproductive problems. The donor egg recipient model from assisted reproductive technology programs has shown that corpus luteum function can be replaced by estrogen and progesterone administration. The mechanism by which these steroids stimulate a uterus to be receptive to implantation of the embryo is not known. Several proteins produced by the endometrium are candidate markers for uterine receptivity. Further work needs to be done to correlate these markers with subsequent pregnancy outcome. A noninvasive marker for uterine receptivity is ultrasonographic evaluation of the endometrium. Although the sensitivity of this test is high (100%), its specificity is low (only 20% to 60%).     

Long-term evaluation of the ventricular defibrillation energy requirement

INTRODUCTION: Defibrillation energy requirements in patients with nonthoracotomy defibrillators may increase within several months after implantation. However, the stability of the defibrillation energy requirement beyond 1 year has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to characterize the defibrillation energy requirement during 2 years of clinical follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-one consecutive patients with a biphasic nonthoracotomy defibrillation system underwent defibrillation energy requirement testing using a step-down technique (20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 J) during defibrillator implantation, and then 24 hours, 2 months, 1 year, and 2 years after implantation. The mean defibrillation energy requirement during these evaluations was 10.9+/-5.5 J, 12.3+/-7.3 J, 11.7+/-5.6 J, 10.2+/-4.0 J, and 11.7+/-7.4 J, respectively (P = 0.4). The defibrillation energy requirement was noted to have increased by 10 J or more after 2 years of follow-up in five patients. In one of these patients, the defibrillation energy requirement was no longer associated with an adequate safety margin, necessitating revision of the defibrillation system. There were no identifiable clinical characteristics that distinguished patients who did and did not develop a 10-J or more increase in the defibrillation energy requirement. CONCLUSION: The mean defibrillation energy requirement does not change significantly after 2 years of biphasic nonthoracotomy defibrillator system implantation. However, approximately 15% of patients develop a 10-J or greater elevation in the defibrillation energy requirement, and 3% may require a defibrillation system revision. Therefore, a yearly evaluation of the defibrillation energy requirement may be appropriate.     

Electrodeposited polytyramine as an immobilisation matrix for enzyme biosensors

The application of an electrodeposited polytyramine film as an immobilisation matrix for the construction of enzyme biosensors is described. Glucose oxidase (used as a model enzyme) is covalently attached to free amine groups on the polytyramine film using the coupling reagents 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide. The resultant recognition interface consisted of multilayers of GOx immobilised onto the polymer surface. This method of constructing enzyme biosensors is shown to produce a highly reproducible and stable device. The biosensor showed no loss in electrode response after four months of dry storage and exhibited only minor loss in response after 20 days of repeated use. The resultant biosensor had a linear range of 0.1-28 mM glucose and a detection limit of 0.01 mM.     

AK-5 tumor-induced expression of interleukin-12: role of IL-12 in NK-mediated AK-5 regression

Spontaneous regression of AK-5, a histiocytic tumor, is mediated by CD3-, CD8+ NK cells through ADCC. The onset of AK-5 regression is associated with the induction of humoral immune response and the augmentation of effector function. The mechanism of tumor cell death involves both necrosis and apoptosis. Interleukin-12, a 75-kDa heterodimeric cytokine, has multiple effects on T and NK cells. We have investigated the role of IL-12 in the NK cell-mediated AK-5 tumor regression process. Subcutaneous transplantation of AK-5 tumor induced the expression of IL-12 (p35 and p40) message by Day 6-8 in the splenocytes of syngenic rats. Similarly, analysis of serum samples from tumor-bearing animals showed the presence of circulating IL-12 around the same time. Interaction of immune cells with antibody-tagged AK-5 cells in vitro also triggered the expression of IL-12 message and protein by 3 hr. The circulating IL-12 in the sera of tumor-rejecting animals, as well as rIL-12, stimulated NK cell proliferation, expression of CD16 and CD25, and the activation of NK cells function. These observations suggest that the ability of the AK-5 tumor to induce the endogenous production of IL-12 may be responsible for keeping the NK cells constantly in an activated state, thus demonstrating an efficient mechanism for the complete regression of the tumor.     

One-stage sternal stenting with homograft bone after cardiac operation in pediatric patients

Low cardiac output after open heart operations in neonates and infants carries a high mortality. Delayed sternal closure may be life-saving but may prolong hospital stay and increase costs. To circumvent these issues, we shaped homograft bone and interposed it between the sternal edges to allow primary wound closure in 2 pediatric patients. Midterm results are satisfactory.     

Recognition and management of catheter-induced pulmonary artery rupture

The use of PCR to amplify a specific virA gene fragment serves as a highly specific and sensitive method to detect virulent bacteria of the genus Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli. Amplification of a 215-bp DNA band was obtained by using isolated genomic DNA of Shigella, individual cells of Shigella dysenteriae, and mayonnaise contaminated with S. dysenteriae. Moreover, a multiplex PCR with specific (virA) and bacterium-restricted (16S ribosomal DNA) primers generated an amplification product of approximately 755 bp for all bacteria tested and an additional 215-bp product for Shigella and enteroinvasive E. coli.     

RNA-binding activity of the E1B 55-kilodalton protein from human adenovirus type 5

The human adenovirus 5 E1B 55-kDa protein is required for efficient nucleocytoplasmic transport of late viral mRNAs. This protein is shown to have RNA-binding activity which maps to a region of the protein with homology to a family of RNA-binding proteins and which has been shown previously to be essential for functionality of the protein in vivo.     

Consideration of conformational transitions and racemization during process development of recombinant glucagon-like peptide-1

This article summarizes the results of a combined analysis from two identical multicenter clinical trials that investigated the efficacy and safety of sertraline versus placebo for treating panic disorder. Patients with panic disorder who were treated with sertraline had a statistically significant reduction in the mean number of panic attacks per week (the primary efficacy measure) as compared with placebo (4.8 vs. 2.5, p < .001). Sertraline-treated patients also showed greater improvement that was statistically significant on several ratings of panic disorder symptomatology and functioning. The design characteristics, clinical rating measures, and outcome measures in these trials included most of the features deemed essential by Shear and Maser (1994) in their summary of the NIMH Consensus Conference for the development of standardized assessments for panic disorder. This suggests that the NIMH Consensus Conference played a key role in developing successful multicenter pharmacological treatment studies, such as this one that ultimately demonstrated that sertraline was an effective treatment for panic disorder.