FETAL SCALP BLOOD SAMPLING

Fetal scalp blood sampling (FSBS), in conjunction with fetal heart rate monitoring, is a method of fetal surveillance that may avoid cesarean delivery of the healthy fetus or indicate the need for immediate delivery of a compromised fetus. Some researchers have recently begun to question the efficacy of FSBS. In this article, three nurse-midwives discuss FSBS as a tool in assessing fetal well-being during labor and consider whether FSBS is a nurse-midwifery procedure.     

DNA-Methylierung von monohalogenierten Methanen in F-344 Ratten

Monohalogenated methanes (methyl chloride, methyl bromide and methyl iodide) are mutagenic and carcinogenic. The possible mechanism of these effects, DNA methylation, was studied. DNA adducts from orgnas of F344 rats exposed to these chemicals were separated and identified with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gaschro-matography/massspectrometry (GC/ MS). DNA adducts, 7-methylguanine (7-MeG) and O⁶-Methylguanine(0⁸-MeG), incorporation of¹⁴C into de novo synthesis of nucleobases could be observed in enzymatic DNA hydrolysates by HPLC and determination of the radioactivity in the fractions. The formation of DNA add,ue,ts in the studied organs was only quantitatively different. The formation of O⁶-MeG was further pioved by analysing the acidic hydrolysates using HPLC with non-radioactive O⁶MeG as internal standard. 7-MeG and 3-MeA were identified with GC/MS analysis.     

The consequences of H2 receptor antagonist — piroxicam coadministration in patients with joint disorders

Summary A randomised crossover study was performed in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (or other arthropathies) to investigate if any alteration in the steady pharmacokinetics of the NSAID piroxicam (a drug which is extensively metabolised via cytochrome P450) or its major metabolites occurred as a result of coadministering either cimetidine or nizatidine.Twelve females and 2 males with mean age, weight, and albumin concentrations of 58 years, 61 kg, and 40 g·L^–1 respectively, completed the study. Comparisons were made between the following parameters: plasma piroxicam AUCs [AUC_0-24(P)], plasma 5-hydroxypiroxicam AUCs [AUC_0-24(5-OHP)], the ratio of these i.e. AUC_0-24(5-OHP):AUC_0-24(p), the % piroxicam daily dose excreted in urine as 5-hydroxypiroxicam (before and after glucuronidase incubation); and the mean of the steady state trough piroxicam, and 5-hydroxypiroxicam concentrations (obtained during each study phase in addition to the wash-out period).A statistically significant difference as a result of initiating either cimetidine or nizatidine was obtained only for the ratio AUC_0-23(5-OHP):AUC_0-24(P). This was indicative of a weak potential to inhibit piroxicam hydroxylation.No clinically significant alteration in the steady state pharmacokinetics of piroxicam occurred in these subjects as a result of cimetidine or nizatidine coadministration. Consequently it is unlikely that any adverse events would arise from these combinations.     

Localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a cerebellar tumor in a two-year-old child

Noninvasive localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used for differential diagnosis of a focal brain lesion in a 2.5-year-old girl. The clinical signs were a mild head tilt and neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a lesion in the right hemisphere of the cerebellum, but its nature remained obscure. In this lesion quantitative determinations of cerebral metabolites by fully relaxed, short-echo-time proton MRS revealed markedly lowered N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and pronounced elevations of choline-containing compounds (Cho) and myo-inositol (Ins), whereas metabolite concentrations in cortical gray matter and white matter were within normal ranges. The metabolite pattern of the lesion indicated loss of vital neuroaxonal tissue (low NAA) and enhanced glial proliferation (high Cho and Ins), which, together with the MRI morphology, suggested a brain tumor. The diagnosis was established by neurosurgical exploration and total extirpation of the tumor. Histology confirmed an astrocytoma (WHO II). After 2 weeks' recovery the child was discharged with no neurological signs.     

Confounders contributing to the reported associations of coffee or caffeine with disease

The role of caffeine or coffee in causing or promoting the incidence of serious disease is equivocal. Two design factors may account for the discrepancies in reported findings on the effects of coffee drinking: (a) imprecision of measurement and (b) confounding variables. A study of 2,714 white U.S. adults disclosed that, of 32 risk factors analyzed by linear and logistic regression, only sex and cigarette smoking were found to be important potential confounders of caffeine and coffee intake. Partial R2 values of the other 30 risk factors were relatively small and were inconsistent for each sex. It is unlikely that any of these factors could explain any of the reported associations between caffeine or coffee consumption and certain diseases. However, certain weak associations with caffeine or coffee intake should be included in the study design when they are known to be risk factors of a disease under investigation. These factors for men are dietary fat intake, vitamin C intake, and body mass index; and for women are vitamin use, alcohol intake, stress, and perceived health status.     

Human interleukin 4 regulates the phenotype of lymphocytes generated during mixed lymphocyte culture and inhibits the IL-2-induced development of LAK function in normal and leukaemic cells

This study examined the immunoregulatory role of recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4), also known as B-cell stimulating factor 1, on the generation of cytotoxic effector cells from normal and leukaemic human blood mononuclear cells. When tested on cells from normal individuals, the addition of IL-4 to mixed lymphocyte cultures led to a dose-dependent proliferation of T-helper cells (CD3, 4 positive) with a concomitant decrease in phenotypic and functional cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. IL-4 also inhibited the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity when added at the beginning of mixed lymphocyte culture. When tested on mature leukaemic NK cells, IL-4 also inhibited the ability of IL-2 to induce LAK function using a short-term culture system. These results show that IL-4 acts on both normal and leukaemic cells and suggests that it acts at more than one level during the development of LAK function.     

Two approaches to social support in smoking cessation: Commodity model and nondirective support

The commodity model of social support and features of Nondirective Support may clarify varied results of support interventions for smoking cessation. A commodity model views social support as attractive in and of itself and as an alternative to high-risk choices such as smoking. If such support is easily accessible, a would-be quitter is less likely to choose to smoke. Consistent with the commodity model, social support interventions tend to be effective as long as support remains available, but they lose their effects when support is terminated. From a second approach, Nondirective Support entails accepting recipients' goals, cooperating without taking control, and validating recipients' feelings. In contrast, Directive Support entails taking control and telling recipients what to do and feel. Review of support interventions indicates the value of the continued availability of support suggested by the commodity model and of Nondirective Support's flexibility and responsiveness to the person.     

Eating to beat breast cancer: Potential role for soy supplements

Background: The study reviews the anticancer properties of naturalisoflavones which occur in especially high concentration in soybeans. Itconsiders the suitability of soybean products for clinical trials aiming toreduce the progression of breast cancer.Methods: Evidence is reviewed that plant isoflavones such asgenistein show cytostatic activity against human mammary cancer cell linesin vitro and can also suppress carcinogen-induced mammary cancer inyoung and mature rats.Results: Plant isoflavones are converted in the bowel to compoundswith potential antioestrogenic and antioxidative properties. These compoundsshow cytostatic activity for both oestrogen receptor-positive and negativehuman mammary cancer cell lines, and also inhibit growth and progress of therat mammary cancer model. The high content of soybean products in the diet ofAsian women has been postulated as one reason for their relatively low breastcancer incidence.Conclusion: Preclinical studies suggest that soybean products begiven priority for clinical trials in breast cancer protection. A pilot studycould test soy protein supplements as long-term adjuvant dietary treatmentafter primary surgery for early breast cancer, looking for a decrease in therisk of recurrence or of second primary tumours.