Therapy for cessation of smoking

Tobacco dependence is a chronic relapsing medical illness. Unfortunately more than 1.1 billion people worldwide smoke tobacco. Tobacco consumption rate is very high in India. Providing three minutes counseling by physicians doubles the cessation rate as compared to no intervention. Nicotine replacement products (gums, transdermal patch, nasal spray, inhaler and lozenge), bupropion and varenicline used with counseling by physicians double the cessation rates at one year. There are drugs like buspirone, naltrexone, mecamylamine and silver acetate; some of which either alone or in combination with any of the above drugs may be routinely used in near future for smoking cessation in at least some specific groups of population. The most difficult problem for patients in smoking cessation is withdrawal symptoms. Counseling with continuous support from physician, family members, friends and overall from the society will help in achieving a higher rate of smoking cessation, with the final aim of making ours a tobacco smoke-free world for future generations.     

Evaluation of the polyethylene glycol-indirect antiglobulin test for routine compatibility testing

All specimens received in the blood bank over a 5-month period for crossmatch or group and screen requests were tested in parallel by a polyethylene glycol-indirect antiglobulin test (PEG-IAT) and a low-ionic-strength saline (LISS)-IAT. The sera of 41 of 1471 patients had reactions, with 50 antibodies being detected. Ten antibodies reacted only on the PEG-IAT and 14 only by the LISS-IAT; the remaining 26 antibodies were detected by both methods. Of the antibodies that reacted only by the LISS-IAT, one (anti-Jka) was considered clinically significant, whereas five of the antibodies that reacted only by the PEG-IAT (1 anti-c, 2-Fya, 1-Jkb, and 1-S) were considered significant. Two antibodies of questionable clinical significance were detected only by the PEG-IAT. In 97 percent of the sera tested, no reaction was detected by either method. The PEG-IAT is an acceptable technique for routine compatibility testing.     

Studies on the blood of a Dc(e) homozygote and her family

It has been reported previously that genes that have been called Dc- represent a heterogeneous group and that some of them would better be described as Dc[e] and Dc(e). We have studied the blood of a black proposita and some of her family members and have concluded that she is homozygous for Dc(e). The form of Dc(e) present in this family makes all the Rh antigens of common occurrence for which we were able to test. In this respect, it differs markedly from another form of Dc(e), which is seen in individuals whose red cells lack a very common Rh antigen and who become immunized against that antigen. We suggest the term Dc(e)R17 for the gene present in the family studied; our results indicate that its products are: normal amounts of D, c, G, Hr0, and Rh29; reduced amounts of e and f; and markedly reduced amounts of hrS and hrB. The expression of some antigens encoded by Dc(e)R17 are quantitatively but not qualitatively different from the products of R0.     

人视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖与川芎嗪的影响

目的:观察糖基化终产物(advanced glycation end products,AGEs)对人视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖的影响,以及川芎嗪对AGEs诱导的人视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖的拮抗作用。方法:实验于2003-09/2004-07在中南大学湘雅二医院中心实验室完成。①实验分组:原代培养人视网膜色素上皮细胞,第3￣8代用于实验,设空白对照组,DMEM培养基中不加入任何药物;AGEs对照物组,培养液中含100mg/L的AGEs对照物;AGEs组,培养液中含10,50,100,200,400mg/L的AGEs,分别干预视网膜色素上皮细胞24h及48h。②实验操作:川芎嗪干预实验:也设空白对照组;AGEs对照物组;AGEs组,培养液中含100mg/L的AGEs;AGEs 川芎嗪组,培养液中加入10,20,40,80,160,320,640mg/L川芎嗪30min后加入100mg/L的AGEs,分别干预视网膜色素上皮细胞24h。③实验评估:MTT微量酶比色法检测视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖情况。结果:①视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖情况:不同浓度AGEs组细胞增殖率均高于对照物组(P<0.01),100mg/LAGEs组增殖率(24,48h分别为39.45%,31.97%)高于其他组(P<0.01),48h与24h结果一致。②川芎嗪的抑制效应:与AGEs组比较,10,20,40,80,160mg/L川芎嗪对AGEs诱导的视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖无抑制作用(P>0.05),320及640mg/L川芎嗪有抑制作用,其抑制率为8.96%,15.08%(P<0.01)。结论:①AGEs可诱导人视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖。②低浓度川芎嗪对AGEs诱导的人视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖无抑制作用,高浓度川芎嗪具有抑制作用。     

PDLA/PLLA and PDLA/PCL nanofibers with a chitosan‐based hydrogel in composite scaffolds for tissue engineered cartilage

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease in humans, causing pain, loss of joint motility and function, and severely reducing the standard of living of patients. Cartilage tissue engineering attempts to repair the damaged tissue of individuals suffering from OA by providing mechanical support to the joint as new tissue regenerates. The aim of this study was to create composite three dimensional scaffolds comprised of electrospun poly(D,L‐lactide)/poly(L‐lactide) (PDLA/PLLA) or poly(D,L‐lactide)/polycaprolactone (PDLA/PCL) with salt leached pores and an embedded chitosan hydrogel to determine the potential of these scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. PDLA/PLLA‐hydrogel scaffolds displayed the largest compressive moduli followed by PDLA/PCL‐hydrogel scaffolds. Dynamic mechanical tests showed that the PDLA/PLLA scaffolds had no appreciable recovery while PDLA/PCL scaffolds did exhibit some recovery. Primary canine chondrocytes produced both collagen type II and proteoglycans (primary components of extracellular matrix in cartilage) while being cultured on scaffolds composed of electrospun PDLA/PCL. As a result, a composite electrospun embedded hydrogel scaffold shows promise for treating individuals suffering from OA. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

急性心肌梗死后行心血管MRI的时间选择对评估梗死特点及预测心室重构的影响

目的用心血管MRI研究心肌梗死的演变特点,评估急性心肌梗死后2d及1周的心血管MRI数据,哪个能更好地预测梗死3个月后的梗死面积及左室功能。材料与方法本研究经当地研究伦理委员会审查批准,并获得病人的书面知情同意书。再灌注的急性心肌梗死48例,分别在发病后     

Castration Eliminates Conspecific Aggression in Group-Housed CD1 Male Surveillance Mice (Mus musculus)

Microbiologic surveillance is essential for murine health maintenance. At our institution, female progeny of inhouse-bred CD1 mice are used in both the transgenic facility and health-surveillance program. To reduce overall animal use, the male progeny, otherwise slated for euthanasia due to a lack of utility, also were enrolled as sentinels. However, veterinary technicians noted excessive fighting among cohoused male surveillance mice that was not resolved by environmental enrichment. After review of factors known to influence aggression in male mice, early castration was selected as the most likely approach to eliminate aggressive behavior among cohoused male mice. Male mice were castrated before 1 mo of age and then placed into the surveillance program. Each week, veterinary technicians recorded all incidences of fighting in cages of castrated and noncastrated male surveillance mice to determine differences between groups. Over a 3-mo period, the overall prevalence of fighting in cages of intact male mice was 64% (14 of 22 cages); although all intact male mice were used preferentially for complete necropsy surveillance time points, one of these cages required separation and 4 cages housed mice that incurred severe fight wounds requiring both separation and euthanasia. In comparison, a 0% (0 of 16 cages) prevalence of fighting was observed among castrated male mice. Castration eradicated pain and distress associated with fighting, thereby constituting a refinement, and allowed the use of male mice from the breeding colony for surveillance, thereby reducing the total number of mice bred for surveillance. In conclusion, castration is a minimally invasive, safe, humane, rapid method to eliminate conspecific aggression among male CD1 surveillance mice.Our institution maintains SPF rodent facilities, and maintaining this status is critical, given that most infectious agents are known to affect research results and reliability. In addition, pathogen elimination efforts are difficult, expensive, and laborious. Because many murine pathogens cause no gross clinical signs in infected animals, ‘sentinel’ animals are used to detect the presence of these microbial agents. To ensure that colonies remain free of specified pathogens, all of the rodent facilities at our institution support an active surveillance program. In each mouse holding room, 6 sentinel CD1 mice are housed in a rat cage and, in an organized rotation, are exposed to dirty bedding from colony mice in that room. The sentinels are sampled for endo- and ectoparasites and undergo serologic analysis for viral agents and mycoplasma every 2 mo. In addition, bacteriology and histology of tissue samples are performed every 6 mo.Concurrently, CD1 mice are bred inhouse for the transgenic core facility and to supply mice for this sentinel program. Female pups are used as recipients for embryo transfer, are cycled back into the breeding program, or are introduced into the surveillance program. Traditionally, additional female CD1 mice were ordered from vendors to meet the numbers required for the surveillance program. As a refinement initiative, the male CD1 mice bred inhouse, which would otherwise be euthanized due to their lack of prescribed use, were integrated into the surveillance program. However, this practice had an unfortunate sequela: the male surveillance mice had a high prevalence of intracage aggression, often necessitating separation or euthanasia of affected mice. In addition to being a significant animal welfare concern, chronic social stress has known immunosuppressant effects that may be counterproductive to specific and sensitive serologic screening.^5,11,12In addressing this welfare concern, we reviewed the numerous factors reported to influence aggression in adult male mice. These factors include stocking density, cage space, enrichment, cagemate familiarity, olfactory cues, and the influence of sex hormones.^{9,20,22,25,31} After carefully weighing each of these factors, we determined that stocking density, cage space, and enrichment had been optimized for both animal welfare and achieving the goals of the surveillance program. Littermates designated for the surveillance program were maintained as a group, therefore cagemates were familiar. However, sentinel mice were unavoidably exposed to exogenous olfactory cues from dirty bedding from multiple cages.^20,22 We hypothesized that early castration could eliminate fighting in the male CD1 sentinels and concurrently support the needs and goals of the health monitoring program.     

LIVER RESECTION FOR METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL CANCER

Five percent of patients with liver secondaries from colorectal carcinoma are potentially resectable and several studies have demonstrated significantly improved survival following resection. Two hundred and ten patients operated for colorectal carcinoma were followed up. Computed tomography confirmed potentially resectable metastasis to the liver in 38. On exploration 18 patients who had 4 or less hepatic metastases and no extrahepatic disease, underwent resection of their secondaries. Fourteen were males and 4 females with a mean age of 43.5 (SD 13.6, range 18-72) years. Ten patients presented with synchronous liver metastasis and 8 had metachronous disease. There was no post-operative mortality. All 18 have been followed up. for a median period of 23.5 (range 12-38) months. Seven patients are alive and well with no evidence of recurrence at a median period of 28 months (survival 39%). Four are alive with local recurrence in the liver. Median time to recurrence was 22 months. Seven patients have died of disseminated disease. The disease free survival at 28 months is 39% and the overall survival 61%. A close follow-up protocol for all patient undergoing curative surgery for colorectal cancer is essential, if such patients are to be selected early.KEY WORDS: Colorectal cancer, Liver resection, Metastases     

PAROTOID TUMOURS: A STUDY OF 65 CASES

Sixty five patients who had undergone surgery for parotid tumours over a period of nine years were studied retrospectively. There were 45 males and 20 females. There were 49 benign and 16 malignant tumours. Age ranged 35-69 years; mean 47 years. Pain (6%) and facial palsy (3%) were unusual features. Size of tumour at presentation varied from 1.5 to 12 cm. Superficial parotidectomy was the commonest operation performed and Total/Radical/Extended parotidectomy was done in selected cases. Postoperative radiotherapy was used in six cases. No recurrences were noted following surgery for benign tumours. However a local recurrence rate of 37% was found for malignancies (6/16 cases). This paper aims to review the experience of managing these tumours in the setting of service hospitals.KEY WORDS: Carcinoma parotid, Parotid tumour, Pleomorphic adenoma