Effects of the synthetic anti-oxidant, probucol, on the U937 monoblastoid cell line

We examined physiological events in the hyperplastic artery, using a method based on the mechanical responsiveness and myosin light-chain phosphorylation in response to various stimulants. Six weeks after endothelial denudation by ballooning of the right carotid artery, strips of this artery with moderate intimal hyperplasia (intimal area was 30-50% of medial area in 20 of 28 rabbits) were used for experiments. Strips from the left carotid served as the normal control. When the hyperplastic artery was stimulated with 30 microM PGF2 alpha, the maximal tension (232.4 +/- 49.1 mg/mg dry wt, mean +/- SD) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control (129.5 +/- 16.4 mg/mg). The maximal extent of myosin light-chain monophosphorylation (45.4 +/- 8.9%) and diphosphorylation (10.9 +/- 5.2%) in the hyperplastic artery was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control artery (33.0 +/- 4.8 and 4.0 +/- 4.8%, respectively). The monophosphorylation of the myosin light chain in the hyperplastic artery was sustained for up to 20 min, while that in the control artery decreased to the basal level within 20 min. Similar observations were obtained by stimulation with 60 mM K+ or 30 microM norepinephrine. Dose-response curves of the development of tension in the hyperplastic artery to various agonists (K+, PGF2 alpha, norepinephrine) shifted upward the curves for the control artery. These results suggest that qualitative changes in the characteristics of smooth muscle cells may occur in the intimal hyperplastic portion, including a hyperreactive contraction associated with enhanced and sustained phosphorylation of the myosin light chain.     

Small cell carcinoma of gallbladder: report of two cases

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma has been reported from multiple sites, including the gallbladder. Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder is a very rare tumor, found usually in elderly women and associated with cholelithiasis. It carries a grave prognosis, metastasizing early and causing death shortly after diagnosis. Treatment of metastatic disease with two different chemotherapeutic regimens has been shown to improve survival. To the best of our knowledge, this tumor has not been previously reported in a black individual, or in any subject less than 49 yr or more than 79 yr old. We report two cases: one is the first black and youngest reported case. The second is the oldest person reported with this rare malignancy. Radiological studies such as ultrasound and CT scan were useful in evaluating tumor spread and follow-up.     

Optimization of the thorium-uranium regime in CANDU heavy-water reactors

Two operating regimes of a heavy-water power reactor operating in a thorium-uranium fuel cycle are examined: accumulation of the required amount of ²³³U and self-fueling with ²³³U fuel. The parameters of 10 variants of the core-lattice cells of a heavy-water power reactor are calculated. The lattice spacing is kept constant and the variants differ by the number of channels, containing fuel elements or targets, and the ²³³U content in ThO₂. Combined channels containing fuel elements and a target at the same time are examined. Preference is given to a cell variant where a cell contains three channels with fuel elements and one channel with targets. For this variant, the fuel burnup is ∼8 MW-days/kg. A large increase of the burnup, i.e., decrease of the amount of reprocessed targets, can be achieved by decreasing the minimum reactivity excess and also by changeing and increasing the complexity of the technology. For example, a large effect is expected from using combined fuel assemblies. In so doing, provisions must be made for performing complicated operation of disassembling highly active fuel assemblies consisting of fuel elements and targets. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 101, No. 5, pp. 327–336, November, 2006.     

Assessment of homeostasis by body''s adaptative responses in patients with tuberculous pleurisy]

AIM: The study of the detection rate and potential pathogenetic significance of antibodies to low density oxidated lipoprotein (LDOL) in patients who had ischemic cerebral circulation disorder (ICCD) at young age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The examination (enzyme immunoassay, general and neurological investigations, laboratory and instrumental tests) covered 148 patients who survived ICCD at young age (mean age 37.2 years). RESULTS: 48 of 108 (44%) patients had LDOL antibodies. Antibodies to cardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant were recorded in 33 (31%) patients. LDOL antibodies were higher and occurred more frequently in patients with Sneddon's syndrome (35% of patients, mean LDOL antibodies-44 units) and primary antiphospholipid syndrome (17% of patients, 45 units) than in atherosclerotic affection of the major head arteries (4%, 29 units) or occlusion of cerebral arteries of unclear genesis (8% of patients, 29 units). CONCLUSION: ICCD were not related to fast development of cerebral atherosclerosis or periaortitis due to production of LDOL antibodies as no relationships were found between their rise and atherosclerotic lesions of cerebral major arteries or periaortitis as shown by ultrasonic dopplerography or cerebral angiography. Feasibility of LDOL antibodies participation in the coagulation cascade and induction of hypercoagulatory condition causing ICCD needs special investigation.     

The biotype and genetic characteristics of an isolate of the cowpox virus causing infection in a child

The study included 138 patients operated on for endo-extracellular pituitary adenomas which extend both intracranially and into the structures of the base of the skull. Operations via transcranial and transsphenoidal access to various tumor sites were performed in 38 patients (a main group), while 100 patients (a control group) underwent one of these operations. Two-stage operations, followed by removal of the suprasellar and basal regions of a tumor, are expedient for enhancing the efficiency of surgical treatment, reducing the incidence of complications associated with traumatic attempts at removing tumor parts hard-to-reach by transcranial or transsphenoidal approaches, as well as at reducing the number of relapses. At the first stage of surgical treatment it is advisable to make an intervention via transcranial access especially in cases of complex configuration of the suprasellar part of a tumor. The recommended interval between transcranial and transsphenoidal surgeries is 3-5 months. Two-stage surgical treatment does not lead to significant structural changes and to the increased number of complications, and to higher mortality rates as compared to one-stage surgery (transcranial or transsphenoidal surgeries alone).     

Experimental investigation and development of a method for computing the thermophysical properties of hydrocarbons and petroleum products

The results of comprehensive experimental investigations of the thermophysical properties of n-hexane and cyclohexane and the thermoconductivity of liquid petroleum products are presented.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 319–331, February, 1981.