Induction of class II major histocompatibility antigens on thyroid, adult pancreatic islet, and fetal proislet allografts.

Cultured BALB/c (H-2d) thyroid, adult pancreatic islet and fetal proislet tissues can be accepted permanently in CBA/H (H-2k) recipients until rejection is triggered by the transfer of antidonor strain activated immune T cells. Class II MHC antigens are not expressed on the accepted grafts and are induced following immune cell transfer, but expression is quantitatively and qualitatively different for the different tissues. Thyroid allografts show intense class II MHC antigen expression early after immune cell transfer and before extensive tissue destruction has occurred. In contrast, adult islet and fetal proislet allografts show patchy and cytoplasmic staining usually associated with areas of tissue destruction. Gamma-interferon treatment of tissues in vitro showed that proislet tissue has a greater capacity for class II MHC antigen induction than adult islet tissue. The differences in the capacity for class II MHC induction by fetal and adult islet tissue may be important in relation to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.     

An open-label, uncontrolled dose-optimization study of sublingual apomorphine in erectile dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Because apomorphine is a dopamine agonist that acts on areas of the central nervous system believed to mediate penile erection, its use in erectile dysfunction (ED) has been investigated. However, it also produces nausea by dopamine-receptor stimulation of the chemotrigger zone in the brain. Therefore, a low plasma concentration, achieved rapidly, would be selective for the desired erectile response but would be below the dopamine threshold for nausea. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a dose-optimized regimen of a sublingual formulation of apomorphine (apomorphine SL) in the treatment of ED. METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled, Phase III dose-optimization study of apomorphine SL in heterosexual men with ED. The 2-week screening period, during which baseline severity of ED was determined using the International Index of Erectile Function, was followed by a 3-week dose-optimization period beginning at a dose of 2 mg. Patients were to make at least 2 attempts at intercourse per week throughout the study, placing 1 apomorphine tablet under the tongue beforehand. At the end of the first week, the dose could be increased to 3 mg at the discretion of the investigator; at the end of the second week, the dose could be increased to a maximum of 4 mg or decreased as needed. In the following 4-week treatment period, patients took their individual optimal doses. The primary efficacy variable was the percentage of attempts resulting in erections firm enough for intercourse, as assessed by investigators' review of data from patients' diaries. Secondary variables included the percentage of attempts resulting in successful intercourse, time to erection, and duration of erection. Information about adverse events, including their severity and relation to treatment, was determined on the basis of direct questioning, spontaneous reports, and review of patient diaries. RESULTS: The study enrolled 849 heterosexual men whose ages ranged from 31 to 78 years (mean, 58.1 years). They had a mean 5.7-year history of ED of varbus causes. ED was mild in 11.5% of the men, moderate in 23.8 c, and severe in 48.1%. When results of the last 8 attempts were pooled, representing the period during which patients were taking their optimal doses of apomorphine SL, the mean percentage of attempts resulting in erections firm enough for intercourse was 39.4%, compared with 13.1% at baseline; attempts resulting in intercourse increased from a mean of 12.7% at baseline to 38.3% with treatment. The average median time to erection was 23 minutes, and the average median duration of erection was 13 minutes. Nausea, the most common treatment-related adverse event (11.7%). was dose related and diminished with continued dosing. One patient had a single syncopal episode that was judged to be related to apomorphine SL. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a dose-optimization regimen of apomorphine SL-with dosing initiated at 2 mg and adjusted up to a maximum of 4 mg as needed-was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of ED, regardless of its cause or severity.     

An outbreak of food poisoning in a military establishment

Background: An outbreak of food poisoning in a military establishment mess was investigated and remedial measures suggested.     

高效液相色谱法测定寒痹停片中士的宁含量

目的：建立用ＨＰＬＣ测定寒痹停片中士的含量的方法。方法：氰基柱;流动相－甲醇－水－三乙胺－乙酸（９８００：１５５：１５：３０）;紫外检测波长２５４ｎｍ。结果：在４～２０ｕｇ／ｍｌ范围内,标准曲线回归方程为：Ｙ＝－２８０３＋８９６７ｘ（ｒ＝０．９９９７）,ＲＳＤ＝１．６５％?加样回收率的平均值为９９．８２％。结论：实验表明,这是一个适用于生产控制和产品质量检验的简单、快速、准确的方法。     

Tuberculosis presenting as stridor

A 40-year-old woman was seen with stridor and mediastinal widening secondary to tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy mimicking neoplasm. Initially, stridor could only be controlled with high-dose corticosteroids, but following initiation of antituberculous chemotherapy corticosteroids were withdrawn successfully and the mediastinal lymphadenopathy resolved.     

黄柏及中成药中小檗碱和巴马亭的高效液相色谱法测定

本文以正相高效液相色谱法,用窗口图解技术对色谱条件进行了优化。对黄柏及其中成药中的有效成分——小檗碱、巴马亭的提取、测定条件、标准曲线进行了研究。并对两种含黄柏的中成药样品进行了分析。其中小檗碱的回收率均在97%以上,巴马亭的回收率均在96%以上。