Subtalar joint coalition in children: new observations

Eleven children with clinical and radiographic findings suggestive of nonosseous subtalar coalition were found to have fibrous bridges at the time of surgery. A second group of 14 children with similar clinical and radiographic findings is being conservatively treated at present. This series of children suggests that a common site of nonosseous subtalar coalition is found posterior to the sustentaculum tali. Diagnosis of nonosseous coalition requires careful examination with computed tomography, with attention to subtle changes in the hindfoot, particularly posterior to the sustentaculum tali.     

A device for insuring the congruency of opposed irregularly blocked fields

A device for insuring the congruency of opposed irregularly blocked fields has been developed which permits the treatment of both fields of a parallel opposed pair without the realignment of any field-shaping standard non-divergent blocks. The device is an adaptor which attaches directly to the shadow tray or wedge holder and provides 2 channels for 1 Lucite shadow tray. A mirrow-image field is obtained without disturbing the position of the blocking array. Set-up times are decreased.     

Coblockade of the LFA1:ICAM and CD28/CTLA4:B7 pathways is a highly effective means of preventing acute lethal graft-versus-host disease induced by fully major histocompatibility complex-disparate donor grafts

We have developed an in vitro system in which C57BL/6 donor splenocytes are exposed to B10.BR host alloantigens in the context of deficient CD28:B7 signaling as a means of preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Although 54% to 82% of MLR alloresponse was inhibited by cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4)-Ig treatment of host stimulator cells, treated splenocytes were still capable of causing GVHD when infused in vivo. By adding anti-leukocyte function antigen 1 (anti-LFA1) antibody to hCTLA4-Ig in vitro to coblock the LFA1:intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) signaling, splenic alloresponse was inhibited by > or = 89%, yet GVHD induction capabilities were retained. Because antigen-primed cells might be more susceptible to CD28:B7 blockade, we investigated whether hCTLA4-Ig alone, anti-LFA1 antibody alone, or the combination of both added to donor-antihost in vitro primed cells could reduce GVHD. To facilitate hyporesponsiveness induction and to block B7 and ICAM ligands that are upregulated during GVHD, these reagents were also administered to recipients post-BMT. We have shown that hCTLA4-Ig plus anti-LFA1 antibody is highly effective in preventing GVHD-induced lethality (88% to 100% of treated mice surviving versus 0% to 28% of controls surviving). For optimal prevention, both hCTLA4-Ig and anti-LFA1 must be used in vitro in the context of donor-antihost primed splenocytes and continued in vivo. This in vitro-in vivo combined approach was associated with donor engraftment, and recipients were not globally immunosuppressed. We conclude that blocking both the CD28/B7 and the LFA1:ICAM pathways are critical to effective GVHD prevention and may offer advantages to in vitro donor T-cell removal.     

PAF-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the rabbit: contribution of platelets and airway smooth muscle.

1. Aerosol administration of platelet activating factor (PAF) to normal rabbits induced an enhanced airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine, 6 and 24 h after exposure. Following exposure to bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the carrier molecule for PAF, there was an increase in airway responsiveness to histamine 6 h after challenge, although by 24 h this was not significantly different from the responsiveness of airways to histamine before BSA. 2. PAF-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness at 24 h was associated with a substantial increase in the number of neutrophils and mononuclear cells and a small, but significant increase in the number of eosinophils in the lungs as assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage. BSA exposure failed to alter the total number of cells in the lungs, although there was a significant increase in the number of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. 3. Selective platelet depletion with a guinea-pig anti-rabbit platelet serum inhibited PAF-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In addition, there was an attenuation of PAF-induced airway inflammation in animals rendered thrombocytopenic. 4. The contractile potency to histamine, methacholine and carbachol was similar in intrapulmonary bronchi taken from rabbits exposed to an aerosol of BSA or PAF. Furthermore, the relaxant potency to the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline, was unaltered in PAF-treated rabbits. In contrast, there was a 2.58 fold reduction in the relaxant potency to theophylline in rabbits exposed to PAF compared with rabbits exposed to BSA. 5. These results suggest that in the rabbit, PAF-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness at 24 h is associated with airways inflammation and is dependent upon platelet activation, but is not related to changes in airway smooth muscle function.     

Axin与细胞信号转导的研究进展

0 引言 Axin(axis inhibitor)基因是1997年对天然小鼠突变系基因克隆分析中发现的编码AXIN蛋白质的基因,原名FUSED,为了避免与不相干果蝇FUSED基因 混淆,并推测FUSED基因在动物胚胎体轴分化中起重要作用,将其重新命名为AXIN,即轴抑制[1,2].     

LORAZEPAM IN STUPOR

SUMMARY The use of lorazepam in relieving catatonic symptoms is illustrated by the dramatic response in a stuporous patient. The treatment allows further investigations and management. It is recommended that clinicians familiarise themselves with this simple pharmacological intervention.     

A rare case of "secondary" drowning]

The Authors present a case of a young man who drowned in sea water after the shock caused by a lightening that fell close to him as the swam. The Authors discuss and analyze the effects of the two events (drowning and lightening) which developed similar cerebral injuries but with a different origin.     

含羟基氨基酸小肽的合成及其抗孕酮生成活性

用固相、逐步接肽法合成了十一个含羟基氨基酸小肽。在肽树脂裂解反应中比较了HF及TFMSA(三氟甲磺酸)两种方法,裂解收率基本相同。全部产物经C-18反相柱纯化后,氨基酸组成数值均符合预期结构要求。对孕酮分泌影响的活性筛选表明Gly-Tyr-NH₂,Gly-Tyr-Lys-OH及Gly-Ser-Lys-OH有明显的抑制hCG诱发孕酮分泌的活性(P<0.01)。     

The pharmacology of the respiratory epithelium.

The airway epithelium is composed of a heterogenous population of cells and investigations on the epithelium have realized a number of important functions. With increasing use of cell isolation techniques, the function of individual cells within the epithelium is currently under investigation which will assist in the understanding of the role of airway epithelium in health. It is known that epithelial damage and/or impairment of epithelial cell function is a consistent feature of some respiratory conditions and whether such damage contributes to the disease is also under investigation. This review will summarize the current literature on the function(s) of the epithelium and its possible role in respiratory disease.