Ultrasound of the whole breast utilizing a dedicated automated breast scanner

Innovations in design of a dedicated breast scanner resulted in automation of the scanning process, the production of high resolution images of the whole breast and an efficient mode of image review. The results of clinical evaluation of the prototype of this breast scanner investigating normal breasts as well as benign and malignant breast lesions are presented.     

S-phase modulation by irinotecan: pilot studies in advanced solid tumors

Two studies of irinotecan (CPT-11) followed 24 h later by an antimetabolite were conducted. The objectives of the studies were: (1) to determine whether the increase in S-phase in tumor cells seen 24 h after CPT-11 administration in animal studies is seen in advanced solid tumors in patients, (2) to determine the dose of CPT-11 required to produce this effect, (3) to compare two methods (immunohistochemistry, IHC, for cyclin A, and DNA flow cytometry, FC) for evaluating S-phase in tumor biopsies from patients, and (4) to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of CPT-11, given 24 h before gemcitabine (GEM, 1000 mg/m²). In one study CPT-11 was followed 24 h later by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 400 mg/m² per week for 4 weeks every 6 weeks. Tumor biopsies were obtained before and 24 h after CPT-11 administration before administration of 5-FU and assayed for S-phase by IHC for cyclin A and by FC. The starting dose of CPT-11 was 80 mg/m² per week with subsequent exploration of 40 and 60 mg/m² per week to establish the dose-effect relationship of the increase in tumor cells in S-phase. In the second study, CPT-11 was given 24 h before GEM 1000 mg/m² per week for 2 weeks every 3 weeks. Doses of 20–80 mg/m² were explored to establish the MTD and DLT and to study tumor cell S-phase in selected patients. CPT-11 80 mg/m² produced a mean increase in S-phase by IHC for cyclin A of 137%. Lesser increases were seen with 40 and 60 mg/m². CPT-11 followed 24 h later by 5-FU 400 mg/m² per week for 4 weeks was well tolerated. In the study of CPT-11 followed by GEM 1000 mg/m², 60 mg/m² of CPT-11 was the MTD.This work was presented in part at the 14th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, Frankfurt, Germany, November 2002.     

Social Play Behavior in Adolescent Rats is Mediated by Functional Activity in Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Striatum

Social play behavior is a characteristic, vigorous form of social interaction in young mammals. It is highly rewarding and thought to be of major importance for social and cognitive development. The neural substrates of social play are incompletely understood, but there is evidence to support a role for the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum in this behavior. Using pharmacological inactivation methods, ie, infusions of GABA receptor agonists (baclofen and muscimol; B&M) or the AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione (DNQX), we investigated the involvement of several subregions of the medial PFC and striatum in social play. Inactivation of the prelimbic cortex, infralimbic cortex, and medial/ventral orbitofrontal cortex using B&M markedly reduced frequency and duration of social play behavior. Local administration of DNQX into the dorsomedial striatum increased the frequency and duration of social play, whereas infusion of B&M tended to have the same effect. Inactivation of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core using B&M increased duration but not frequency of social play, whereas B&M infusion into the NAcc shell did not influence social play behavior. Thus, functional integrity of the medial PFC is important for the expression of social play behavior. Glutamatergic inputs into the dorsomedial striatum exert an inhibitory influence on social play, and functional activity in the NAcc core acts to limit the length of playful interactions. These results highlight the importance of prefrontal and striatal circuits implicated in cognitive control, decision making, behavioral inhibition, and reward-associated processes in social play behavior.     

保元强肾Ⅱ号胶囊对慢性肾功能衰竭肾小管间质损伤的临床研究

目的:探讨中药保元强肾Ⅱ号胶囊对慢性肾功能衰竭(CRF)的疗效及机理。方法:60例CRF患者随机分为保元强肾Ⅱ号胶囊加洛汀新组(治疗组,30例)及必需氨基酸加洛汀新组(对照组,30例),观察肾功能及肾小管标志蛋白的改变。结果:治疗组显效率及总有效率分别为633%及933%;对照组分别为300%及567%,治疗组疗效明显优于对照组(P<001);治疗组治疗后BUN、SCr及CCr均较治前明显改善,尿视黄醇结合蛋白、尿β2微球蛋白及尿N乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶均比治疗前显著降低,TammHorfau蛋白比治疗前显著增高(P<001或P<005)。结论:保元强肾Ⅱ号胶囊对肾小管间质损伤有明显的改善作用,从而改善肾功能,提高疗效。     

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF CARDIO-RENAL DISEASF)*

The classification of Bright''s Disease has claimed much attcntion during the present century. Some clinicians content themselves with the simple division into acute and chronic nephritis. This seems hardly adequate when one considers the varying types of the disease which one encounters.     

Comparison of an immunoperoxidase "sandwich" staining method and western blot detection of P-glycoprotein in human cell lines and sarcomas.

The applicability of a multilayer immunoperoxidase "sandwich" method (IpS) developed by Chan14 for the amplified detection of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) was investigated. The authors examined 15 formalin-fixed cell lines, as well as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from single biopsies of 46 sarcomas. The cell lines included sensitive and multidrug resistant sublines (KB, A2780, MCF-7, HeLa) with various relative degrees of resistance to doxorubicin (Dox). The sarcoma biopsy specimens were selected on the basis of the results obtained in Western blot (WB) detection of Pgp (22 positive and 24 negative by WB) using C219 and C494 monoclonal antibodies to Pgp. The IpS method employed C219. The least resistant cell line in which Pgp could be detected by IpS was fivefold resistant to doxorubicin, whereas Pgp was detected by WB in cells greater than twofold resistant. Cell lines having greater than fivefold resistance to Dox were positive by both IpS and WB analyses. The less resistant cell lines contained more nonreactive cells whereas the highly resistant cell lines showed more homogeneous strong membrane reactions. Among the six cell lines determined to be Pgp negative by WB analysis, no false positive immunostaining by IpS existed. One of 22 WB positive and 7 of 24 WB-negative sarcoma biopsy specimens were positive by IpS methods. Reaction varied and was always focal (a minimum of 3-5 cells, ranging up to 3-4 high power fields) indicating pronounced heterogeneous distribution of Pgp. Thus, WB can detect low average (overall) levels of Pgp in tumor samples but such low concentrations of PgP at the single cell are not detectable by IpS methods. However, IpS can discern among many Pgp-negative cells small subpopulations of immunoreactive cells, which are not detected by WB analysis due to Pgp dilution by the membrane protein of numerous Pgp negative cells. IpS and WB used together as complementary methods can provide more complete information about Pgp distribution and content, particularly in the case of heterogeneous human tumors. The IpS method is more suitable for less drastically treated (not embedded) cell line specimens than for paraffin-embedded (routine) sections. Some modification of the present IpS protocol seems necessary to increase its sensitivity and reduce the disparity with WB results.     

Preparation and distribution of 5-fluorouracil 125I sodium alginate-bovine serum albumin nanoparticles

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胃肠胰胰岛淀粉样多肽的定位和表达

胰岛淀粉样多肽(islet armyloid polypeptide,IAPP)是1986年瑞典学者Westermarket al[1,2 ]从胰岛素瘤患者的瘤组织,糖尿病猫及Ⅱ型糖尿病患者胰岛淀粉样沉积物中分离出来的一种多肽,几乎在同时,英国生物化学家Cooper et al[3,4]也从Ⅱ型糖尿病患者的胰岛淀粉样沉积物中分离出该肽.IAPP又称为amylin.对IAPP的分子结构、基因表达和生理作用等已有许多报道[5].近年来,在IAPP定位、表达及胃肠胰IAPP免疫反应(immunoreactive,IR)细胞定位、发生、发育方面的研究报道,为探讨IAPP的生理作用及疾病状态下的改变,提供了形态学依据,现综述如下.