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.     

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.     

Calibration of Cameras with Radially Symmetric Distortion

We present algorithms for plane-based calibration of general radially distorted cameras. By this, we understand cameras that have a distortion center and an optical axis such that the projection rays of pixels lying on a circle centered on the distortion center form a right viewing cone centered on the optical axis. The camera is said to have a single viewpoint (SVP) if all such viewing cones have the same apex (the optical center); otherwise, we speak of NSVP cases. This model encompasses the classical radial distortion model [5], fisheyes, and most central or noncentral catadioptric cameras. Calibration consists in the estimation of the distortion center, the opening angles of all viewing cones, and their optical centers. We present two approaches of computing a full calibration from dense correspondences of a single or multiple planes with known euclidean structure. The first one is based on a geometric constraint linking viewing cones and their intersections with the calibration plane (conic sections). The second approach is a homography-based method. Experiments using simulated and a broad variety of real cameras show great stability. Furthermore, we provide a comparison with Hartley-Kang's algorithm [12], which, however, cannot handle such a broad variety of camera configurations, showing similar performance.     

Occupational health problems and injuries among Quebec's physical educators

The purpose of this study was to describe the traumatology of teaching physical education (PE) and to document the causes and mechanisms of injuries in this occupation. Our sample was composed of 314 physical educators (PEs) teaching at three school levels (primary school, secondary school and college) who responded to a questionnaire survey. The results showed a 0.55 rate of recent lesion per teacher per year (0.65 for women and 0.51 for men). A total of 37.6% of subjects were affected by a lesion during the last year at work. Subjects with a higher weekly frequency of leisure physical activities or endurance activities (five times and more) were less affected by chronic lesions as well as those who frequently practiced aerobic physical activities. Prevalence of chronic injuries was higher in older teachers. Our results confirm that the rate of lesions in this group of workers is high, and that school level and respondent age may influence the rate of lesion and the characteristics of risk factors. In particular, the effect of ageing and teaching specialization on the incidence of occupational problems in PEs warrants further research. Given the relatively high rate of injuries among PE teachers, we suggest that it is necessary to further explore preventive strategies to reduce occupational risk in these workers. In particular, prophylactic physical activity outside of work may represent such a strategy since PEs more active outside their work have lower chronic injury prevalence. PEs gave long periods of standing the highest rating for movements or positions most likely to cause them occupational injuries. It can thus be suggested to find ways to reduce standing position sustained for long periods.     

Changes in serum thyrotropin (TSH) in man during halofenate administration

Halofenate, a serum lipid-lowering agent which inhibits binding of thyroid hormone to thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), was administered daily for 14 days to 8 hypothyroid subjects with elevated TSH concentrations as a result of incomplete thyroxine (T4) therapy. Drug administration resulted in mean increases in serum dialyzable fraction T4 (DFT4) of 52% over pretreatment levels (P less than 0.01) and in dialyzable fraction triiodothyronine (DFT3) of 26% in 7 subjects, (P less than 0.01). During halofenate treatment in these 7 subjects, serum TSH concentrations decreased significantly (mean = 39%, P less than 0.01) when DFT4 and DFT3 were increased by halofenate. In only two subjects was there a convincing temporal relationship between increased serum absolute free T4 (AFT4) and decreased serum TSH concentrations. Contrary to what would be predicted from the "free hormone hypothesis", changes in serum TSH concentration in these hypothyroid patients appeared to relate primarily to changes in the free fraction of circulating T4 and T3 (DFT4, DFT3), rather than to alterations in AFT4 or AFT3. Halofenate did not alter serum TBG binding capacity. An eighth subject did not show increased DFT4 and DFT3 during halofenate treatment despite achievement of therapeutic serum levels of the agent; in this patient, serum TSH levels rose progressively throughout the period of inadequate T4 replacement and halofenate administration. In hypothyroid patients, short-term halofenate use suggests that the pituitary-thyroid hormone feedback circuit can respond to increases in serum DFT4 and DFT3 in the absence of detactable increases in absolute free hormone concentrations.