CeO2掺杂TiO2粉体的制备及其性能研究

采用Sol-gel法制备了CeO2不同掺杂比例的TiO2粉体,研究了掺杂比例对样品晶型、光谱吸收曲线及光催化降解亚甲基蓝的影响,结果表明:掺杂CeO2的TiO2样品对光波长的响应阈值为500nm左右;样品在普通日光灯下照射4h,对亚甲基蓝的降解率明显优于Degause P25,其中CeO2掺杂比率为7%(mol)的样品降解率达到了最大.     

SPARC deficiency leads to early-onset cataractogenesis

PURPOSE: To determine the role of SPARC (secreted protein, acidic, and rich in cysteine) in cataractogenesis by examining mice deficient in a matricellular protein SPARC. METHODS: Mice were rendered SPARC-deficient by a targeted disruption of the gene. Slit-lamp microscopy and histology were used to examine the eyes of SPARC-null and wild-type mice from birth to 14 months of age. RESULTS: SPARC-null mice developed opacities in the posterior cortex of the eye as early as 1.5 months after birth. The diffuse cataracts appeared to progress toward the anterior cortex and reached maturity in many animals by 3.5 months of age. Early stages of cataractogenesis in SPARC-null mice included inhibition of normal lens fiber cell differentiation, degeneration of fiber cells, vacuole formation at the equator, and liquefaction of the cortex. No cataracts were detected in wild-type mice up to the age of 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: The early onset of cataracts in SPARC-null mice establishes that the gene is essential to the maintenance of lens transparency.     

O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase inactivation by ester prodrugs of O6-benzylguanine derivatives and their rate of hydrolysis by cellular esterases

To modulate the bioavailability and perhaps improve the tumor cell selectivity of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) inactivators, pivaloyloxymethyl ester derivatives of O6-benzylguanine (BG) were synthesized and tested as AGT inactivators and as substrates for cellular esterases. The potential prodrugs examined were the 7- and 9-pivaloyloxymethyl derivatives of O6-benzylguanine (7- and 9-esterBG), and of 8-aza-O6-benzylguanine (8-aza-7-esterBG and 8-aza-9-esterBG) and the 9-pivaloyloxymethyl derivative of 8-bromo-O6-benzylguanine (8-bromo-9-esterBG). The benzylated purines were all potent inactivators of the pure AGT and of the AGT activity in HT29 cells and cell extracts. Each ester was at least 75 times less potent than the corresponding benzylated purine against the pure human AGT. In contrast, the activities of esters and their respective benzylated purine were similar in crude cell extracts and in intact cells. The increase in potency of esters in cellular extracts could be explained by a conversion of the respective prodrug to the more potent benzylated purine in the presence of cellular esterases. The apparent catalytic activity (Vmax/Km) of liver microsomal esterase for 8-azaBG ester prodrugs was 70-130 times greater than for BG prodrugs and 10-20 times greater than for 8-bromo-9-esterBG. Tumor cell hydrolysis of the esters varied considerably as a function of cell type and prodrug structure. These data suggest that these or related prodrugs may be advantageous for selective AGT inactivation in certain tumor types.     

Preoperative chemoradiation and pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

The goal of multimodality therapy for localized pancreatic cancer is to maximize local-regional disease control and patient survival. In contrast to surgery for other solid tumors, prolonged recovery following pancreaticoduodenectomy may prevent the timely delivery of postoperative adjuvant therapy. Therefore, efforts at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have focused on the delivery of chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery in patients with localized pancreatic cancer. Clinical trials have emphasized the use of altered-fractionation schedules of radiation therapy combined with novel radiation-sensitizing agents. All treatment schemes aim to decrease toxicity and treatment time while improving therapeutic efficacy.     

Aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxin A4 (ATL) generation by human leukocytes and murine peritonitis exudates: development of a specific 15-epi-LXA4 ELISA

Aspirin (ASA) triggers the formation of 15-epi-lipoxins (15-epi-LXs or ATL [ASA-triggered LX]), which are potent bioactive eicosanoids that may contribute to the therapeutic impact of ASA. To elucidate the role of these new compounds in vivo, it is essential to establish quick and sensitive detection methods. To this end, we prepared an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for 15-epi-LXA4 that proved to be highly sensitive (IC50 approximately 50 pg, minimum detection approximately 3.5 pg) and stereoselective. The amounts of 15-epi-LXA4 generated by human neutrophils from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers using this enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were in agreement with those values obtained by liquid chromatography. Formation of 15-epi-LXA4 was cell ratio-dependent during THP-1 (a monocytic leukemia cell line)-neutrophil interactions with ASA-treated cells, and 15-epi-LXA4 was not detected with either cell type alone. Generation of 15-epi-LXA4 was also examined in murine peritonitis with ASA administration. Exudates from ASA-treated mice showed increased production of 15-epi-LXA4 that was diminished by indomethacin, a blocker of ASA-dependent acetylation of prostaglandin G/H synthase. A cytochrome P450 inhibitor administered in the presence of ASA did not prevent 15-epi-LXA4 formation, which suggests that P450 does not significantly contribute to formation of 15-epi-LXA4 in this murine model. These results indicate that the new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is both sensitive and selective for 15-epi-LXA4 and that 15-epi-LXA4 is produced by human leukocyte-leukocyte interactions. In addition, 15-epi-LXA4 is generated by inflammatory exudates when ASA is administered during murine peritonitis and when prostaglandin G/H synthase is upregulated and acetylated. This assay should provide rapid means to investigate 15-epi-LXA4 generation in both cellular and animal models.     

Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin: proCyaA and CyaC proteins synthesised separately in Escherichia coli produce active toxin in vitro

We analyzed the role of Fyn tyrosine kinase in cell cycle progression of B lymphocyte progenitor (pro B cell). Whereas there were no substantial defects in the intramarrow B cell genesis in the fyn(-) mouse, and long-term proliferation of fyn(-) pro B cells was maintained in vitro under a serum containing culture condition, the cell cycle was arrested at G2/M upon serum deprivation. Morphological analyses demonstrated that the cytokinesis of fyn(-) pro B cells was retarded in the presence of serum and that the entry of fyn(-) pro B cells into late telophase was completely blocked under the serum-free condition. In contrast, the earlier phases of mitosis of fyn(-) pro B cells proceeded normally without FCS. This failure to initiate late telophase resulted in the accumulation of elliptical binucleated cells that might be the outcome of the nuclear division without cytokinesis. Consistent with this defect in the progression of cytokinesis, Fyn was localized in the midspace of dividing pro B cells at anaphase. These results suggested that Fyn localizes at the midspace of dividing pro B cells and regulates the progression of cytokinesis.     

The use of interference currents and iodobromine baths in the therapy of patients with chronic nonobstructive pyelonephritis

30 patients were exposed to interference currents (IC) alone (group 1) versus 34 patients treated with IC plus iodobromine baths (group 2). After IC action on the region of the kidney projection patients of group 1 experienced positive changes in cellular and humoral immunity providing an antiinflammatory effect. In group 2, the improvement was seen in renal and urinary functions, 24-h urinary excretion of oxalates and calcium diminished. Interference current proved beneficial in chronic pyelonephritis patients with latent inflammation. The combined therapy was effective in patients at high risk of lithogenesis.     

The relationship of the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the apo-B gene to the blood lipid spectrum in patients with ischemic heart disease

Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the apo-B gene at the Xbal restriction site was detected. The association between RFLP of the apo-B gene and the level of lipid metabolism indices was revealed. The levels of total cholesterol LDLP CH and atherogenicity coefficient were significantly higher in homozygotes with this restriction site (X2X2) than in homozygotes X1X1 and heterozygotes.     

Changing clinical practice. Prospective study of the impact of continuing medical education and quality assurance programs on use of prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of continuing medical education (CME) with and without a quality assurance component (CME+QA) on physician practices in the prevention of venous thromboembolism. METHODS: A communitywide study was performed in 15 short-stay hospitals in central Massachusetts. The study population included 3158 patients in acute-care hospitals with multiple risk factors for venous thromboembolism. Study hospitals were randomly assigned to one of two educational strategies or to a control group that received no intervention. RESULTS: The proportion of patients at high risk for venous thromboembolism who received effective methods of prophylaxis increased significantly from 29% in 1986 to 52% in 1989 (P < .001). This increase was seen in all study groups: control hospitals, 40% to 51% (P < .001); CME hospitals, 21% to 49% (P < .0001); and CME+QA hospitals, 27% to 55% (P < .0001). The increase in prophylaxis use from 1986 to 1989 was significantly greater among patients cared for in hospitals whose physicians participated in a formal CME program (an increase of 28%) than in control hospitals (an increase of 11%) (P < .001). There was no significant difference in the use of prophylaxis in hospitals whose physicians received CME+QA interventions compared with hospitals whose physicians received CME interventions alone (identical increases of 28%). CONCLUSION: A formal CME program significantly increased the frequency with which physicians prescribed prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism. We believe the key factor in our CME interventions that motivated clinicians to change their practices was the provision of hospital-specific data demonstrating a compelling need for improvement. Despite the substantial investment by hospitals in QA, traditional QA intervention appeared to provide no additional benefit. Even after extensive CME/QA interventions, prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism remained underutilized, suggesting the need to develop new approaches to changing clinical practice.     

The clinical significance of MDR-1 gene expression in the hemopoietic cells of patients with acute leukemias in different phases of the disease

AIM: Analysis of cytostatic therapy effects on expression of gene MDR-1 in hemopoietic cells of patients with acute leukemia (AL) in complete clinicohematological remission (CCHR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 48 AL patients. 27 of them were untreated, 25 were resistant to or had recurrent AL. 4 patients were followed up. Bone marrow mononuclear fraction was investigated. Expression of MDR-1 gene in the cells was evaluated at hybridization. RESULTS: High expression of MDR-1 gene occurred in leukemic blast cells either upon achievement of CCHR or at least 6 months after its onset. When using schemes of chemotherapy containing two potential inductors of gene MDR-1, expression of this gene was registered significantly more frequently than in using schemes based on one inducing drug (p < 0.05). Frequency of occurrence of enhanced expression of gene MDR-1 in leukemic blasts significantly correlated with frequency of CCHR (p < 0.05). Correlation between occurrence of the gene's expression in normal hemopoietic cells in CCHR and occurrence of early AL recurrences was not found. CONCLUSION: The findings may facilitate design of new AL treatment programs.