Interstitial implantation of gynecologic malignancies

Interstitial implantation is invaluable in the management of patients with extensive or large volume gynecologic malignancies, significant anatomical distortion, or recurrent disease. Such techniques are necessary components of the brachytherapy services available to patients with gynecologic malignancies giving superior results in terms of local tumor control and survival compared to those achieved with external beam alone or inadequate intracavitary applications. Local tumor control with an acceptable risk of complications can be achieved for these challenging disease presentations if these techniques are implemented skillfully through the joint efforts of the radiation oncologist and gynecologic surgeon.     

Attempting to fathom the unfathomable: descriptive views of spirituality

PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term efficacy of awareness programs (AP) in reducing coronary heart disease risk factors (CHDRF). METHODS: High risk hypercholesterolemic patients were divided in 2 groups during 16 weeks. Group A (n = 417, 54.3 +/- 10.0 years, 55% males) received verbal and written orientation on CHDRF control, and group B (n = 180, 54.4 +/- 10.9 years, 45% males) received only verbal orientation. All participants received pravastatin 10 mg q.d. for 12 weeks. The evolution of body weight, arterial pressure, lipid profile, Castelli's I and II indexes (TC/HDL and LDL/HDL), and Framingham scores were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, A had a lower HDL-C (40.0 +/- 11.0 vs 43.0 +/- 11.0 mg/dl, p = 0.013) and a higher index I (8.2 +/- 3.0 vs 7.6 +/- 2.3, p = 0.008) than B. After 16 weeks, A had greater change than B in TC (-28.0 vs -25.0, p < 0.05), LDL-C (-29.0 vs -27.6, p < 0.05), HDL-C levels (+13.7 vs +10.8, p < 0.05) and in the Castelli's Index (-39.0 vs -33.0; p < 0.05). In both groups pravastatin use potentialized the effects of diet on the lipid profile. CONCLUSION: The AP seemed to be more effective than verbal orientation alone in CHDRF reduction at short-term.     

The affinity of cholera toxin for Ni2+ ion

Cholera toxin (CT) was shown to bind to immobilized Ni2+ ion. The affinity of CT for the complex required the presence of the Ni2+ ion, since CT was unable to bind in its absence. Binding was mediated by the B-subunit (CTB) as both CT and CTB bound to the resin, but not the A- subunit (CTA). Binding was reversible in the presence of imidazole and suggested that the affinity of CT for the Ni2+ ion was mediated by His residues. The heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (LT), which is closely related to CT, was unable to bind to the Ni2+ ion. Comparison of amino acid sequences revealed the presence of three His residues in CT (positions 13, 57 and 94), but only one in LT (position 57). To confirm that the residues at positions 13 and 94 of CTB were responsible for the binding, they were changed to residues found in LTB. Changing His13-->Arg completely abrogated the ability of CTB to bind to Ni2+ ion. In contrast, the mutation of His 94-->Asn reduced, but did not abrogate, the ability of CTB to bind to Ni2+ ion. Based on calculated interatomic distances, it is unlikely that His13 and His94 are part of the same complex. There appear to be two separate binding sites, with the principal site involving His13 and a much weaker site involving His94. This latter site can only participate in binding if the complex involving His13 has formed.      

A pilot study of lithium carbonate plus divalproex sodium for the continuation and maintenance treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder

PURPOSE OF STUDY: To assess whether selected periapical radiographs, taken according to High Yield Criteria, can reveal as much intra-osseous pathology as universal panoramic screening. POPULATION STUDIED: The records of 1101 RAF recruits enlisted in 1988-89, average age 19 years (range 16-26). METHODS: The clinical records and bitewing radiographs of the recruits were examined and the requirement for periapical radiographs determined according to high yield criteria. A template, cut out to simulate the area covered by a periapical bitewing radiograph, was placed over the suspect region on the panoramic film and any findings found within the template recorded. The entire dental panoramic tomograph was then examined on a masked screen under 2X magnification and any further findings recorded. FINDINGS: There was a considerable number of findings reported, including three large isolated radiolucent areas, 75 periradicular radiolucent areas, four probable cysts and 1187 unerupted mandibular third molars. However, when the clinical significance of these 'lesions' was assessed only those related to dental causes appeared to have significant clinical implications and the results indicated that these could have been detected by selective radiology. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the only pathology which occurs frequently enough to justify radiographic screening of the jaws in young adults is related to teeth. It seems probable that this type of pathology can be at least as well detected by selective periapical screening, using high yield criteria, as is possible by universal panoramic screening.     

Acquired inhibitors to factors V and X after exposure to topical thrombin: interference with monitoring of low molecular weight heparin and warfarin

Repeated surgical exposure to topical bovine thrombin is known to be associated with the development of antibodies to bovine and human thrombin and factor V. This is demonstrated by abnormalities of in vitro coagulation assays and, rarely, postoperative bleeding. We describe a 4-year-old child in whom an antibody to bovine factor X developed after cardiac surgery; this antibody interfered with the heparin anti-Xa assay, thereby complicating the monitoring of heparin therapy.     

Encoding context and retrieval conditions as determinants of the effects of natural category size.

Studying a familiar word activates its associates in long-term memory. In the present experiments we manipulated the number of associates activated by words studied in the presence of unrelated context words, meaningfully related context words, or in the absence of modifying context words. Memory was tested by either cued or free recall. The results showed that the number of directly activated associates can facilitate, have no effect, or disrupt recall for studied words. The direction and magnitude of the effects of number of activated associates is shown to be determined by the encoding/retrieval context. Implications for the distinction between episodic and semantic memory are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of the ion channels formed by poliovirus in planar lipid membranes

The steps in poliovirus infection leading to viral entry and uncoating are not well understood. Current evidence suggests that the virus first binds to a plasma membrane-bound receptor present in viable cells, leading to a conformational rearrangement of the viral proteins such that the virus crosses the membrane and releases the genomic RNA. The studies described in this report were undertaken to determine if poliovirus (160S) as well as one of the subviral particles (135S) could interact with membranes lacking poliovirus receptors in an effort to begin to understand the process of uncoating of the virus. We report that both forms of viral particles, 160S and 135S, interact with lipid membranes and induce the formation of ion-permeable channels in a manner that does not require acid pH. The channels induced by the viral particles 160S have a voltage-dependent conductance which depends on the ionic composition of the medium. Our findings raise the possibility that viral entry into cells may be mediated by direct interaction of viral surface proteins with membrane lipids.