The potential for proton beam therapy in locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix.

Advanced cervix cancer has a local failure rate of 40-45% when treated with a combination of external beam irradiation and intracavitary implants, and approximately 60-65% when treated by external beam irradiation alone. Because of the absorption characteristics of protons, there is the potential for improved dose distributions and delivery of greater total doses to cervical neoplasms. Using computer-modelled examples, this theoretical advantage has been tested and the results have been extrapolated to show a therapeutic advantage in local control and morbidity. The first example shows the use of protons and intracavitary implants in advanced cervix tumors. Larger tumor doses are possible with protons than with photons, while the dose-volume to normal structures is decreased. In the second example, external proton beam treatment alone also reveals significantly higher tumor doses and lower normal tissue doses, compared to photon irradiation. With new proton therapy facilities being designed and built in the United States and overseas, protocols are being designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of proton therapy in locally advanced cervix cancer.     

Imbalanced MHC class II molecule expression at surface of murine B cell lymphomas

To study the role of class II MHC expression in mouse lymphomagenesis, we examined the cell surface expression of I-A/E antigens on 24 spontaneous or murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced mouse B10.A (I-Ak, I-Ek) B cell lymphomas. Two primary B10.A B cell lymphomas were observed with strong I-Ek expression but with only minimal cell surface I-Ak expression. Both tumors are readily transplantable in syngeneic mice, with maintenance of their I-A-, I-E+ phenotype. Strikingly, one I-A-, I-E+ B cell lymphoma contains a (11; 17) translocation with a breakpoint on chromosome 17 that is localized within or very close to the H-2 complex. DNA of both tumors contains normal restriction enzyme fragments of the A alpha and A beta genes. Northern blot analyses indicated that one I-A-, I-E+ tumor strongly expressed A alpha, E alpha, and E beta mRNAs but possessed only a weak expression of A beta mRNA. The other B cell lymphoma showed A beta, E alpha, and E beta mRNA expression but only minimal A alpha mRNA expression. In 11 primary B10.A B cell lymphomas with a normal I-A+, I-E+ phenotype, no imbalances in A alpha/A beta mRNA levels were observed. The implications of these findings for the role of class II MHC expression in mouse B cell lymphoma-genesis are discussed.     

Freeze-preserved vein grafts and atherosclerosis. An experimental study

Histopathological changes of three types of vein grafts were studied. Freeze-preserved, fresh human grafts and autografts were inserted as patches in the aorta of rabbits on regular and variable cholesterol diets. In all grafts the endothelium and adventitia were reconstituted after a few months. In the wall, smooth muscle and elastic tissue were markedly diminished and poorly oriented with accompanied collagenisation. Cholesterol diet led to progressive fat and/or calcium deposition with subintimal proliferation in the autografts and fresh xenografts. In contrast this was seen to a much lesser degree and later in freeze preserved xenografts, even on higher cholesterol diets. Deep freezing considerably reduces the cellularity of the graft and its metabolic ability to accumulate lipids. Freeze-preserved veins seem to be a suitable graft for vascular reconstructions in severely atherosclerotic patients and compare favorably with vein autografts.     

Preoperative methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening: An effective method to control MRSA infections on elective orthopaedics wards

Background: Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections continue to increase in UK hospitals despite the introduction of various control measures. These infections have serious clinical and economic implications, particularly in relation to elective orthopaedic surgery. Methods: A prospective study was performed from August 2003 to July 2004 to assess the effect of preadmission screening and ‘ring fencing’ of beds on the incidence of infection in an elective orthopaedics unit. Results: The preoperative incidence of MRSA colonization was 2.25% and 53% of these patients had at least one risk factor. There were no postoperative MRSA infections in the ring‐fenced orthopaedic unit. Conclusions: Preoperative screening and ring fencing reduced the MRSA incidence to zero in the operated patients. Mechanisms need to be developed where screening and isolation of MRSA cases can be performed in most, if not all, hospital admissions.     

The pathogenicity of Ab4p, the sequenced strain of equine herpesvirus-1, in specific pathogen-free foals.

The sequencing of the genome of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is reported in Elizabeth A. R. Telford, Moira S. Watson, Kathryn McBride, and Andrew J. Davison, 1992, Virology, 189, 304-316. The sequence was derived using a plaque-purified clone of EHV-1 strain Ab4 (designated Ab4p). To ensure that Ab4p shares the pathogenic characteristics of parental Ab4 (hereafter Ab4), both were inoculated intranasally into foals, specifically free from EHV-1 and EHV-4. Clinical signs, including rectal temperature, were similar for both viruses. In addition, nasal shedding of virus was observed over a 1- to 2-week period postinfection, and viremia was established with both Ab4 and Ab4p. Isolation of virus from one foal following intravenous administration of steroids indicates that Ab4p can establish latency and undergo reactivation. Finally, retinal lesions were observed and these were similar to those seen with Ab4. In conclusion, several pathogenic characteristics of Ab4 are retained in the plaque-purified clone, Ab4p.     

Characterization of the N-glycans of recombinant bee venom hyaluronidase (Api m 2) expressed in insect cells.

Honeybee venom hyaluronidase (Api m 2) is a major glycoprotein allergen. Previous studies have indicated that recombinant Api m 2 expressed in insect cells has enzyme activity and IgE binding comparable with that of native Api m 2. In contrast, Api m 2 expressed in Escherichia coli does not. In this study, we characterized the carbohydrate side chains of Api m 2 expressed in insect cells, and compared our data with the established carbohydrate structure of native Api m 2. We assessed both the monosaccharide and the oligosaccharide content of recombinant Api m 2 using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis and HPLC. To identify the amino acid residues at which glycosylation occurs, we digested recombinant Api m 2 with endoproteinase Glu-C and identified the fragments that contained carbohydrate by specific staining. Recombinant Api m 2 expressed in insect cells contains N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, and fucose, as well as trace amounts of glucose and galactose, and the oligosaccharide analysis is consistent with heterogeneous oligosaccharide chains consisting of two to seven monosaccharides. No sialic acid or N-acetylgalactosamine were detected. These results are similar to published data for native Api m 2, although some monosaccharide components appear to be absent in the recombinant protein. Analysis of proteolytic digests indicates that of the four candidate N-glycosylation sites, carbohydrate chains are attached at asparagines 115 and 263. Recombinant Api m 2 expressed in insect cells has enzymic activity and IgE binding comparable with the native protein, and its carbohydrate composition is very similar.     

Eigenstructure assignment with control gains optimization

Eigenstructure assignment using output feedback is reformulated using an auxiliary principle of minimization of control effort. In the general eigenstructure assignment procedure, the feedback gain matrix is uniquely determined for a set of explicitly specified desired eigenvalues and eigenvectors. However, for the controller design proposed in this paper, only the most necessary constraints are imposed on the desired eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and the unspecified model parameters of the closed-loop system are determined by minimizing the control effort. Numerical examples are presented for comparison of the proposed method with standard eigenstructure assignment methods, and an experimental example gives an insight into the feasibility of the proposed control algorithm with application to the vibration control of flexible structures undergoing forced vibration.     

Promoting repeat mammography use: insights from a systematic needs assessment.

This article describes the process and outcome of a needs assessment conducted to guide the development of interventions to increase repeat mammography use among participants in a federally funded cancer screening program. Health behavior theory and data from a phone survey are used to uncover key barriers to repeat mammography use and to identify fruitful intervention approaches for modifying them. Estimates of (a) compliance with mammography guidelines, (b) readiness to adopt regular mammography use, (c) the most common reasons for not being rescreened, and (d) population attributable risks associated with various predictors of repeat mammography use are presented and, with guidance from the transtheoretical model of behavior change, used to make inferences about the type of intervention strategies most appropriate for promoting repeat mammography use in this population.