Involvement of dendritic cells in autoimmune diseases in children

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that are specialized in the uptake of antigens and their transport from peripheral tissues to the lymphoid organs. Over the last decades, the properties of DCs have been intensely studied and much knowledge has been gained about the role of DCs in various diseases and health conditions where the immune system is involved, particularly in cancer and autoimmune disorders. Emerging clues in autoimmune diseases, suggest that dendritic cell dysregulation might be involved in the development of various autoimmune disorders in both adults and children. However, studies investigating a possible contribution of DCs in autoimmune diseases in the pediatric population alone are scanty. The purpose of this review is to give a general overview of the current literature on the relevance of dendritic cells in the most common autoimmune conditions of childhood.     

The art of pediatric oncology nursing practice.

Pediatric oncology nursing practice must incorporate both the science and the art of the discipline to foster positive physical and psychosocial treatment outcomes for pediatric oncology patients, especially those outcomes related to their health-related quality of life. In this article, the art of nursing care is described within the context of scientifically based care, and the art of nursing practice is evident in the implementation of the scientific principles and standards for pediatric oncology nursing practice. The author proposes that the art of pediatric oncology nursing practice ought to be evident in care activities that the nurse provides within a therapeutic relationship that is steeped in nursing presence. Although the art of nursing care and the nature of an effective therapeutic relationship is tacit, valued knowledge among pediatric oncology nurses, as well as children and adolescents with cancer and their families, it is difficult to describe and challenging to quantify its effect on patient care outcomes. This article discusses the art of pediatric oncology nursing practice and its influence on treatment outcomes.     

Distribution and origin of serotoninergic afferents to guinea pig cochlear nucleus

The distribution of serotoninergic fibers in the guinea pig cochlear nucleus was studied with serotonin immunohistochemistry. In addition, the origin of the serotoninergic fibers was determined by combining the retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-apohorseradish peroxidase (gold conjugated) with serotonin immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity was present in varicose and nonvaricose fibers that were unevenly distributed throughout the cochlear nucleus. The fibers were most prominent in the superficial layers of the dorsal cochlear nucleus and the anterior spherical cell area of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus. Although less prominent, serotonin-positive fibers were also present in the remaining part of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and the posteroventral cochlear nucleus. A few positive fibers were present in the auditory nerve root and the dorsal and intermediate acoustic stiae. Double-labeled cells were found throughout the rostral- caudal extent of the serotoninergic system from the caudal linear nucleus to the nucleus raphe pallidus. However, most were confined to the dorsal (52%) and median (18%) raphe nuclei. Some serotoninergic cell groups contained retrogradely labeled cells that were not serotonin immunoreactive, indicating nonauditory afferents to cochlear nucleus containing other neurotransmitter substances. Serotonin may tonically modulate auditory processing within the cochlear nucleus as well as influence certain ascending auditory pathways. Most of the serotonin in the cochlear nucleus comes from superior raphe nuclei that also project to basal ganglia motor systems and limbic strctures. Therefore, the effect of serotonin on the cochlear nucleus may be related to level of arousal or behavioral state. © 1995 Willy-Liss, Inc.     

Survival Strategies for Nurse-Midwifery Students

Nurse-midwifery students face multiple stressors in their educational experience. Strategies to resolve stress and promote adaptation to the new role are examined and measures used to promote students' adaptation to the educational experience are described.     

A Psychosociocultural Perspective, Part 2

Building on the foundation of understanding and comprehensive assessment of battered women, this article addresses service planning and intervention. Strategies are approached within the framework of a Crisis Paradigm developed from field research with battered women and their families. They include mechanisms such as support groups which link crisis service to the long-term needs of battered women, and systematic approaches to removing the obstacles which keep women victimized. An Assessment and Service Planning Guide (ASPG) is proposed for inclusion in routine health care of abused women. The article concludes with strategies for preventing violence at interpersonal and societal levels.     

Cystic renal melanoma: CT/ultrasound correlation

A new computed tomographic and sonographic appearance of renal metastatic melanoma is described. Bilateral cystic masses with thick walls, many with mural nodules, were noted. Sonography also demonstrated complex echopenic masses with irregularly thickened walls and mural nodules.     

The effect of design of residential homes in creating dependency among confused elderly residents: A study of elderly demented residents and their ability to find their way around homes for the elderly

A study of 13 homes for elderly people examining the effect of the environment on demented residents looked into the complexity of the design from the residents' point of view. Two principal tools were used in this investigation: ‘route diagrams’, which describe a resident's use of the home, and a measure devised to indicate each resident's ability to find her way around the home. These are described and the relationship between them explored. From this the following tentative conclusions are drawn:

• (i) The variables that influence a resident's ability to find her way around differ between group and communally designed homes.
• (ii) It would appear that group homes provide a more favourable design, especially in the case of physically frail demented elderly people.
• (iii) In group homes, the level of lighting is an important aid to a demented person in finding her way around.
• (iv) In communal homes, residents seem most able to find their way around homes that have been adapted from older premises.
• (v) In both types of home, ‘meaningful decision points’ can be seen as aids to a resident finding her way around.

     

Upregulation of the Golgi protein GP73 by adenovirus infection requires the E1A CtBP interaction domain

GP73 is a novel type II Golgi transmembrane protein that is expressed at high levels in the hepatocytes of patients with viral hepatitis (R. D. Kladney, G. A. Bulla, L. Guo, A. L. Mason, A. E. Tollefson, D. J. Simon, Z. Koutoubi, and C. J. Fimmel, 2000, Gene 249, 53-65) and is induced in cultured cells by infection with viruses including adenoviruses. Its biological function and the mechanisms by which its expression may be regulated by viral infection are unknown. Here we report that GP73 is induced at the RNA and protein level in human Hep3B hepatoma cells infected by human Ad5 and Ad2. Hep3B cells were infected with wild-type or mutant adenoviruses. GP73 expression was measured by RNase protection assay, immunoblotting, or immunofluorescence microscopy. GP73 RNA and protein levels were strikingly induced following infection. The rise in GP73 expression coincided with the appearance of the adenovirus E1A and DBP proteins and preceded the expression of the fiber protein, a marker of the late phase of infection. Infection did not affect the expression of giantin, GPP130, or golgin-84, three integral Golgi membrane proteins with structural similarities to GP73. Mapping studies using a panel of mutant adenoviruses demonstrated that the E1A C-terminus, specifically its CtBP interaction domain (CID), is required for GP73 expression. Subsequently, Hep3B cells were transiently transfected with plasmids expressing wild-type or mutant E1A proteins. These studies confirmed that E1A induced GP73 expression via the CID. Our studies establish GP73 as a novel adenovirus-induced cellular protein whose expression is regulated through the CID of the E1A protein.     

Tumor necrosis factor-mediated interactions between inflammatory response and tumor vascular bed

Summary: Solid tumor therapy with chemotherapeutics greatly depends on the efficiency with which drugs are delivered to tumor cells. The typical characteristics of the tumor physiology promote but also appose accumulation of blood-borne agents. The leaky tumor vasculature allows easy passage of drugs. However, the disorganized vasculature causes heterogeneous blood flow, and together with the often-elevated interstitial fluid pressure, this state results in poor intratumoral drug levels and failure of treatment. Manipulation of the tumor vasculature could overcome these barriers and promote drug delivery. Targeting the vasculature has several advantages. The endothelial lining is readily accessible and the first to be encountered after systemic injection. Second, endothelial cells tend to be more stable than tumor cells and thus less likely to develop resistance to therapy. Third, targeting the tumor vasculature can have dual effects: (i) manipulation of the vasculature can enhance concomitant chemotherapy, and (ii) subsequent destruction of the vasculature can help to kill the tumor. In particular, tumor necrosis factor α is studied. Its action on solid tumors, both directly through tumor cell killing and destruction of the tumor vasculature and indirectly through manipulation of the tumor physiology, is complex. Understanding the mechanism of TNF and agents with comparable action on solid tumors is an important focus to further develop combination immunotherapy strategies.