Comparison of the biodistribution and the efficacy of monoclonal antibody 323/A3 labeled with either 131I or 186Re in human ovarian cancer xenografts

The effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) upon thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) release were studied in euthyroid rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of AVP in doses of 0.5 ng or 5 ng led to significant increases in plasma levels of TSH as well as FT4 and FT3. The effects of OT injected i.c.v. in similar doses were not consistent (there was no parallel between the changes of respective hormones plasma levels). It may be concluded that vasopressin modulate the pituitary-thyroid system function; AVP is probably a physiological stimulator of TSH and thyroid hormones secretion.     

Extrahepatic metabolism of 4-methylumbelliferone and lidocaine in the anhepatic rabbit

OBJECTIVE: The initially well-fixed implants of total hip replacement (THR) are in the long-term subject to aseptic loosening. Many cytokines can contribute to osteolysis due to osteoclast recruitment and/or activation. However, in this respect tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a pivotal role, because it upregulates interleukin-1 and 6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. The aim of this study was to assess the eventual presence, cellular localization and extent of expression of TNF-alpha in the synovial-like membrane at the implant or at the cement to bone interface compared to control synovial membrane. METHODS: Twenty samples from the synovial-like membrane of the periprosthetic tissues were compared to control samples. TNF-alpha containing cells were visualized using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method and analyzed by light microscopy, double labelling and image analysis. RESULTS: TNF-alpha was found in the periprosthetic tissues in fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, but mainly in the macrophages was it found to coincide with areas containing implant-derived debris. TNF-alpha containing cells were more numerous in the synovial-like membrane in the interface tissue from the proximal stem area (2816 +/- 318 cells) than in the control synovial membrane (565 +/- 93 cells, p < 0.01). Interestingly, similarly high TNF-alpha expression (3452 +/- 582 cells) was also seen in the synovial-like membrane of the pseudocapsule. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the foreign body-type host reaction caused by THR is characterized by the high expression of TNF-alpha. Because such expression occurred in the interface tissue between the implant and surrounding bone, TNF-alpha, due to its pivotal direct and indirect role in the activation and recruitment of osteoclasts, may contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis and to the loosening of THR.     

Pharmacological specificities and modalities of prescriptions for corticoids for asthmatic adults

The efficacy of corticosteroids in asthma has been recognized over 40 years ago. Since that time, the advent of inhaled forms has further improved the therapeutic of these drugs which are now recognized as the fundamental treatment for asthma, and described in detail by national and international consensus. Based on a large body of literature, it can now be recommended to prescribe inhaled corticosteroids for symptomatic asthma patients. Long-term treatment is required and dosage not exceeding 1000 micrograms/d (beclometasone dipropionate equivalent) in adults are safe. Differences in the pharmacological characteristics of the various systematic and inhaled corticosteroids can be used to adapt treatment and administration route to each patient and achieve good patient compliance with optimal therapeutic efficacy.     

Orthotopic heart transplantation in a transgenic pig-to-primate model

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated that hearts from transgenic pigs expressing human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF) were not hyperacutely rejected when transplanted heterotopically into the abdomen of cynomolgus monkeys. This study examines orthotopic transplantation of hDAF transgenic pig hearts into baboon recipients. METHODS: Orthotopic xenogeneic heart transplantation was performed using piglets, transgenic for hDAF, as donors. Ten baboons were used as recipients and were immunosuppressed with a combination of cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and steroids. RESULTS: Five grafts failed within 18 hr without any histological signs of hyperacute rejection. Pulmonary artery thrombosis induced by a size mismatch was observed in two of these animals. The other three recipients died because of failure to produce even a low cardiac output and/or dysrhythmia. The remaining five animals survived between four and nine days. One animal died of bronchopneumonia on day 4. Three xenografts stopped beating on day 5 due to acute vascular rejection. The longest survivor was killed on day 9 with a beating, histologically normal xenograft, because of pancytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The results reported here demonstrate that hDAF transgenic pig hearts are not hyperacutely rejected when transplanted into baboon recipients. Orthotopically transplanted transgenic pig hearts are capable of maintaining cardiac output in baboons. An optimum immunosuppressive regimen is the subject of ongoing research.     

Turning up the contrast: Self-enhancement motives prompt egocentric contrast effects in social judgments.

Contrast effects occur when people judge the behavior and attitudes of others relative to their own. We tested a motivational account suggesting that these effects arise because people tailor their judgments of others to affirm their own self-worth. Consistent with that interpretation, participants displayed more egocentric contrast in their judgments of another person's intelligence (i.e., their evaluation of his score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test was more negatively related to their own score) after their self-esteem was threatened than after it was bolstered (Studies 1 and 2). High-self-esteem individuals displayed more judgmental contrast overall than did their low-esteem counterparts (Study 2). Strongly pro-choice participants whose esteem was threatened also displayed more contrast in their judgments of another person's attitude on abortion, relative to esteem-bolstered participants (Study 3). Discussion centers on the implications of these findings for theory on social comparison, self-affirmation, and social judgment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mena, a relative of VASP and Drosophila Enabled, is implicated in the control of microfilament dynamics

This paper examines the effects of exposure to mass media messages promoting family planning on the reproductive behaviour of married women in Nigeria using cross-sectional data. Longitudinal data are also used to ensure that exposure to media messages pre-dates the indicators of reproductive behaviour. Cross-sectional analysis suggests that: (1) contraceptive use and intention are positively associated with exposure to mass media messages, and (2) women who are exposed to media messages are more likely to desire fewer children than those who are not exposed to such messages. Similarly, analysis of the longitudinal data shows that exposure to mass media messages is a significant predictor of contraceptive use. Thus, exposure to mass media messages about family planning may be a powerful tool for influencing reproductive behaviour in Nigeria.     

Influence of Silicon and Aluminum Additions on the Oxidation Resistance of a Lean-Chromium Stainless Steel

The effect of Si and Al additions on the oxidation of austenitic stainless steels with a baseline composition of Fe–16Cr–16Ni–2Mn–1Mo (wt.%) has been studied. The combined Si and Al content of the alloys did not exceed 5 wt.%. Cyclic-oxidation tests were carried out in air at 700 and 800°C for a duration of 1000 hr. For comparison, conventional 18Cr–8Ni type-304 stainless steel specimens were also tested. The results showed that at 700°C, alloys containing Al and Si, and alloys with only Si additions showed weight gains about one half that of the conventional type-304 alloy. At 800°C, alloys that contained both Al and Si additions showed weight gains approximately two times greater than the type-304 alloy. However, alloys containing only Si additions showed weight gains four times less than the 304 stainless. Further, alloys with only Si additions preoxidized at 800°C, showed zero weight gain in subsequent testing for 1000 hr at 700°C. Clearly, the oxide-scale formation and rate-controlling mechanisms in the alloys with combined Si and Al additions at 800°C were different than the alloys with Si only. ESCA, SEM, and a bromide-etching technique were used to analyze the chemistry of the oxide films and the oxide–base-metal interface, in order to study the different oxide film-formation mechanisms in these alloys.