Dr Margaret Chan takes office as WHO Director-General

）r Margaret Chan takes office on 4 January 2007 as Director-General of the World Health Organization. She was appointed to the post by the World Health Assembly on 9 November 2006. Dr Chan＇s term will run until the end of June 2012. Previously, she was WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases as well as Representative of the Director-General for Pandemic Influenza.     

Dr Margaret Chan takes office as WHO Director-General

Background The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of interleukin （IL）-2, interferon （IFN）-y, IL-4 and IL-10 in a concordant hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation model. Methods A hamster-to-rat cardiac transplantation was performed using SD rats as recipients of Golden Syrian hamster hearts. A total of 60 SD rats were divided into four groups and treated as follows： control group （n=15）; splenectomy group （n=15）; CsA group （n=15）; CsA ＋ splenectomy group （n=-15）. Levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Sera were harvested at different time points in each group： day 1, and 3 as well as the day the xenograft stopped beating in the control group and CsA group; day 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 in the splenectomy group and CsA＋splenectomy group. The expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） was examined by immunohistochemical analysis of the xenogralt alter cardiac xenotransplantation. Results Serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ were upregulated in untreated （day 3） and splenectomy-treated animals （day 7） compared to CsA ＋ splenectomy treated animals （day 7）. IL-10 was upregulated in long-term survival recipients following splenectomy ＋ CsA. Neither P-selectin nor ICAM-1 expression was detected in long-term survival xenografts. Conclusions Serum IL-2 and IFN-γ were elevated following acute vascular rejection. Serum IL-10 was correlated to immunosuppression and protective effects in long-term survival rats following concordant cardiac xenotransplantation.     

Non-attendance at a psychiatric day hospital new patient clinic.

People who do not attend for treatment present problems in the efficient running of any service. This is particularly the case with new patients referred to a psychiatric clinic where an hour may be set aside for the initial assessment. High non-attendance rates cause administrative problems and loss of valuable time. The referring doctor may be left with his patient unassessed, the patient may miss valuable treatment or advice, and an incorrect assessment of the true prevalence of some disorders may be made.