Effects on Fertility of Rabbits After Active Immunization With Rat Testicular Cytochrome ct

ABSTRACT: A Male rabbit was immunized with rat testicular cytochrome (Cyt) c_t and mated with normal, unimmunized females. The matings resulted in abnormal pregnancies: no offspring or stillborn or undersized liveborn offspring weighing 25–30 gm each. Another unusual observation was that fur-pulling behavior, normally exhibited by pregnant female rabbits at the end of the gestational period, was absent in all of these pregnancies. Therefore, immunization of a normal rabbit with testicular cyt c_t appeared to interfere with physiological and behavioral aspects of pregnancy in normal female rabbits. The immunological basis of these findings remains to be determined.     

HLA-DR4 SUBTYPE AND -B ALLELES IN DQB1*0302-POSITIVE HAPLOTYPES ASSOCIATED WITH IDDM

We determined the distribution of DR4 subtypes in 309 DQB1*0302-positive haplotypes found in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients and 70 control haplotypes present only in healthy family members. An increased frequency of DRB1*0401 allele (74.4% vs. 55.7%, P = 0.003) and a decrease of DRB1*0404 allele (23.6% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.0064) was revealed. A further analysis of extended haplotypes demonstrated strong linkages between various B alleles and DRB1*04 subtypes. HLA-B39 was more frequent in DRB1*0404–DQB1*0302-positive IDDM haplotypes compared with control ones (37.0% vs. 14.3%, P = 0.049), suggesting an involvement of the region telomeric to HLA-DRB1 in the susceptibility to IDDM.     

Quality of life in patients with glioblastoma multiforme participating in a randomized study of brachytherapy as a boost treatment

OBJECT: Until recently the assessment of outcome in patients treated for glioma has emphasized length of survival with the evaluation of quality of life (QOL) limited to unidimensional, mostly physical, measures. The authors report the multidimensional assessment of QOL as part of a randomized clinical trial of brachytherapy as a boost in the initial treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme. METHODS: A questionnaire previously developed by the senior authors and psychometrically validated was completed by patients on randomized entry into the study and at follow-up review every 3 months thereafter. The questionnaire was presented in a linear-analog self-assessment format. Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores were also recorded on each occasion. No differences were found between patients in either arm of the study (conventional radiation therapy consisting of 50 Gy in 25 fractions or conventional radiation plus a brachytherapy boost of a minimum peripheral tumor dose of 60 Gy) in KPS and QOL scores during the 1st year of follow-up review. However, there was a statistically significant deterioration in patients' overall KPS scores during the 1st year of follow up compared with baseline scores. Of QOL items evaluated, statistically significant deteriorations were found in self care, speech, and concentration, and on subscale analyses, cognitive functioning and physical experience (symptoms) deteriorated significantly during the 1st year of follow up, compared with baseline values. The correlation between QOL and KPS scores was low. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies in patients harboring malignant gliomas must incorporate measures assessing QOL because traditional measures focusing on physical or neurological functioning give an incomplete assessment of the patient's experience.     

Early lymphocyte recovery predicts superior survival after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with primary systemic amyloidosis.

PURPOSE: Absolute lymphocyte count recovery at day 15 (ALC-15) post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a powerful prognostic indicator for survival for multiple hematologic malignancies and metastatic breast cancer. The relationship of ALC-15 with clinical outcomes in primary systemic amyloidosis is unknown. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We evaluated 145 consecutive patients with primary systemic amyloidosis who underwent ASCT at the Mayo Clinic from 1996 to 2003. The ALC-15 threshold was set at 500 cells/microL based on our previous observations. RESULTS: The median patient follow-up was 22 months (range, 3-87 months). Higher hematologic complete response was observed in patients with an ALC-15 > or = 500 cells/microL compared with patients with an ALC-15 < 500 cells/microL (41% versus 21%, P < 0.0008, respectively). The median overall survival and progression-free survival times were significantly better for the 59 patients that achieved an ALC-15 > or = 500 cells/microL compared with 86 patients with ALC-15 < 500 cells/microL (not reached versus 53 months, P < 0.0003 and not reached versus 27 months, P < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed ALC-15 to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: ALC-15 > or = 500 cells/microL is associated with significantly improved clinical outcomes following ASCT in patients with primary systemic amyloidosis.     

电脉冲介导基因转移效率的实验研究

目的　研究电脉冲介导的基因转移效率及其最佳的基因转移的电脉冲参数。方法　用微量注射器将pcD2/LacZ质粒10μg,在昆明小鼠的股四头肌注射,1～2min内在注射部位给予不同参数的电脉冲刺激(不同的电脉冲参数每组10只小鼠),然后进行β-半乳糖苷酶活性的测定或酶组织化学染色。同时设空白对照组及单纯注射组。结果　电脉冲可明显增加LacZ基因的表达,电脉冲组的β-半乳糖苷酶活性（131.6U/mg±86.5U/mg蛋白）是单纯注射组（4.9U/mg±1.0U/mg蛋白）的30倍（P<0.05）。组织化学染色结果表明电脉冲组肌肉组织中β-半乳糖苷酶蓝色颗粒的数目和染色的程度均明显高于单纯肌肉注射组。当电脉冲参数电压200V/cm,波宽40ms,脉冲次数6次和频率1Hz时,可获得最高的基因表达效率。结论　在最佳的电脉冲参数条件下,电脉冲介导的基因转移可获得较高的基因表达。     

不同产地牡丹皮饮片质量评价

目的对不同产地牡丹皮饮片进行质量评价。方法采用化学及仪器分析的方法测定3种不同产地牡丹皮饮片的水分、灰分、浸出物、丹皮酚、丹皮总苷及丹皮多糖含量。结果不同产地牡丹皮饮片有效成分含量有显著差异。结论3种不同产地的牡丹皮饮片样品中,安徽铜陵牡丹皮饮片质量最优。     

Early lymphocyte recovery predicts superior survival after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) improves survival in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM) and relapsed, chemotherapy-sensitive, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Lower relapse rates seen in allogeneic stem cell transplantation have been related to early absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery as a manifestation of early graft-verus-tumor effect. In ASCT, the relation between ALC recovery and clinical outcomes in MM and NHL was not previously described. This is a retrospective study of patients with MM and NHL who underwent ASCT at the Mayo Clinic between 1987 and 1999. The ALC threshold was determined at 500 cells/microL on day 15 after ASCT. The study identified 126 patients with MM and 104 patients with NHL. The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) times for patients with MM were significantly longer in patients with an ALC of 500 cells/microL or more than patients with an ALC of fewer than 500 cells/microL (33 vs 12 months, P <.0001; 16 vs 8 months, P <.0003, respectively). For patients with NHL, the median OS and PFS times were significantly longer in patients with an ALC of 500 cells/microL or more versus those with fewer than 500 cells/microL (not reached vs 6 months, P <.0001; not reached vs 4 months, P <.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated day 15 ALC to be an independent prognostic indicator for OS and PFS rates for both groups of patients. In conclusion, ALC is correlated with clinical outcome and requires further study. (Blood. 2001;98:579-585)