Study on percutaneous rate of P-aminobenzoates using molecular orbital method

The use of a dome osteotomy in the treatment of infantile tibia vara is reportedly associated with insufficient intraoperative assessment of the correction achieved. This article discusses a method to overcome this problem and the long-term advantages of using a dome osteotomy in the treatment of this disease.     

N-(2-Benzoylphenyl)-L-tyrosine PPARgamma agonists. 3. Structure-activity relationship and optimization of the N-aryl substituent

3-?4-[2-(Benzoxazol-2-ylmethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl?-(2S)-((2- benzoylph enyl)amino)propionic acid (1) and (2S)-((2-benzoylphenyl)amino)-3-?4-[2-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-y l)e thoxy]phenyl?propionic acid (2) are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists and have antidiabetic activity in rodent models of type 2 diabetes. As part of an effort to develop the SAR of the N-2-benzoylphenyl moiety of 1 and 2, a series of novel carboxylic acid analogues, 23-66, modified only in the N-2-benzoylphenyl moiety were synthesized from L-tyrosine and evaluated as PPARgamma agonists. In general, only modest changes in the N-2-benzoylphenyl moiety of 1 and 2 are tolerated. More specifically, the best changes involve bioisosteric replacement of one of the two phenyl rings of this moiety. Addition of substituents to this moiety generally produced compounds that are less active in the cell-based functional assays of PPARgamma activity although binding affinity to PPARgamma may be maintained. A particularly promising set of analogues is the anthranilic acid esters 63-66 in which the phenyl ring in the 2-benzoyl group of 1 and 2 has been replaced by an alkoxy group. In particular, (S)-2-(1-carboxy-2-?4-[2-(5-methyl-2-phenyloxazol-4-yl)ethoxy]phen yl? ethylamino)benzoic acid methyl ester (63) has a pKi of 8.43 in the binding assay using human PPARgamma ligand binding domain and a pEC50 of 9.21 in the in vitro murine lipogenesis functional assay of PPARgamma activity. Finally, 63 was found to normalize glycemia when dosed at 3 mg/kg bid po in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat model of type 2 diabetes.     

Metastasis of carcinoma of cervix uteri to convexity meningioma

A cerebral collision tumor in which a convexity meningioma was invaded by a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri is described. This is the first time such a lesion has been reported to invade a cerebral meningioma. The patient lived three active years postoperatively until the lesion recurred. Her status then deteriorated, and she died five years after the operation. This was a longer follow-up than any among the other 17 cases of carcinomatous metastases to meningiomas found in the literature.     

Shape-memory nitinol alloy endoprosthesis for malignant biliary strictures

A new design of endoprosthesis, made of shape-memory nitinol alloy, was used to replace the currently used one, which was soon clogged with bile mud. After nitinol wire coil stent was slenderized in ice water, it was inserted into the strictured bile duct by endoscopy or operation. When nitinol wire coil was positioned in a narrowed biliary segment, normal saline heated to 39 degrees C was rapidly hand-injected into the lumen of the inner transport catheter to make the alloy coil to resume its original shape with a length of 3 to 10cm, and a diameter of 5 to 10mm. Since June 1991, 13 patients with malignant biliary strictures were treated with nitinol endoprosthesis. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 16 months (average 6 months). Biliary sludge was not found in the endoprosthesis during the period. The results suggested that shape-memory nitinol alloy endoprosthesis could maintain long term patency without severe infection or obstruction due to biliary sludge.     

Impact of erythromycin on respiratory colonization of Ureaplasma urealyticum and the development of chronic lung disease in extremely low birth weight infants

BACKGROUND: Chronic lung disease (CLD) is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality despite advances in neonatal care. Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization of the lower respiratory tract has been associated with CLD, particularly in extremely low birth weight infants. Despite numerous studies demonstrating the pathogenicity of this organism, treatment remains controversial. This study examines neonates colonized with U. urealyticum in the lower respiratory tract and treated with erythromycin, as compared with noncolonized neonates. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 124 neonates weighing <1000 g at birth, requiring endotracheal intubation and ventilation. Endotracheal aspirates were cultured for U. urealyticum and conventional bacteria twice weekly for the duration of endotracheal intubation. Infants colonized with U. urealyticum were treated with intravenous erythromycin. Maximal ventilatory requirements, CLD at Day 28 and 36 weeks postconception, duration of ventilation, oxygen dependency and hospital stay were documented. RESULTS: Twenty-two infants (18%) were identified as being U. urealyticum colonized in endotracheal aspirates. Colonization was significantly associated with younger maternal age, prolonged rupture of membranes, premature labor and vaginal delivery. Of colonized neonates 14% were delivered by cesarean section, with intact membranes. As compared with noncolonized infants, there were no statistically significant differences in chronic lung disease, duration of oxygen therapy or time to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Seven published cohort studies of similar high risk populations where U. urealyticum-colonized infants did not receive erythromycin therapy, show a consistent association with CLD (pooled relative risk + 5.21; 95% confidence interval, 2.93 to 9.64). This association was not demonstrated in the current study and adds further weight to the need for a randomized controlled trial to be performed to evaluate this treatment regimen.     

Influence of the blight of Morinda officinalis How on microscopic structure and constituents of the host

The results showed that microscopic structure in biennial roots, the contents of B and Mn in nutritive organ and beta-sitosterol content in roots, stems of Morinda officinalis were affected markedly. The total sugar content in the roots and aerial stems was decreased by 5.42%-15.29%.     

Regulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by the tyrosine kinase receptor, REK7/EphA5, and its ligand, AL-1/Ephrin-A5

The Eph-related tyrosine kinase receptor, REK7/EphA5, mediates the effects of AL-1/Ephrin-A5 and related ligands and is involved in the guidance of retinal, cortical, and hippocampal axons during development. The continued expression of REK7/EphA5 in the adult brain, in particular in areas associated with a high degree of synaptic plasticity such as the hippocampus, raises the question of its function in the mature nervous system. In this report we examined the role of REK7/EphA5 in synaptic remodeling by asking if agents that either block or activate REK7/EphA5 affect synaptic strength in hippocampal slices from adult mouse brain. We show that a REK7/EphA5 antagonist, soluble REK7/EphA5-IgG, impairs the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) without affecting other synaptic parameters such as normal synaptic transmission or paired-pulse facilitation. In contrast, perfusion with AL-1/Ephrin-A5-IgG, an activator of REK7/EphA5, induces a sustained increase in normal synaptic transmission that partially mimics LTP. The sustained elevation of normal synaptic transmission could be attributable to a long-lasting binding of the AL-1/Ephrin-A5-IgG to the endogenous REK7/EphA5 receptor, as revealed by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, maximal electrical induction of LTP occludes the potentiating effects of subsequent treatment with AL-1/Ephrin-A5-IgG. Taken together these results implicate REK7/EphA5 in the regulation of synaptic plasticity in the mature hippocampus and suggest that REK7/EphA5 activation is recruited in the LTP induced by tetanization.     

The structure of carbon filaments and associated catalytic particles formed during pyrolysis of natural gas in steel tubes

New information is presented on the structure and growth of carbon filaments formed in association with catalytic metal or metal carbide particles during pyrolysis of natural gas. The structures of the filaments and of the particles have been examined by transmission electron microscopy. The filaments are hollow, ~0.1 μm or less in diameter, and vermicular as opposed to straight. The graphite basal planes are frequently not parallel to the axis of the filament. Individual catalyst particles have been identified as (Fe,Cr)₂₃C₆ when pyrolysis occurs in a stainless steel tube and as γ-iron in a plain carbon steel tube.