In vitro and in vivo activity of murine lymphokine-activated killer cells after cryopreservation

The in vitro and in vivo effects of cryopreservation on the cytotoxic activity of murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells were studied. LAK cells were generated by incubation of spleen lymphocytes of BALB/c mice for 3 days with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and subsequent cryopreservation. Cytotoxicity was determined in a 51Cr release assay. After thawing, cytotoxic activity was reduced (40.4% 51Cr release at an effector:target cell ratio of 40:1 as compared to 68.5% 51Cr release before freezing) and could be restored to precryopreserved levels by reincubation with rIL-2 for 2 days after thawing (78.8% 51Cr release). These cells were then tested in BALB/c mice injected with RAW 112 cells, a pre-B-cell lymphoma line. The results demonstrate that the survival rate of mice injected with cryopreserved and restimulated LAK cells (50% survival greater than 180 days after injection) did not differ significantly from that of mice injected with fresh unfrozen LAK cells (60% survival greater than 120 days, 50% survival greater than 180 days). Cryopreserved LAK cells have potential use in adoptive immunotherapy.     

Respiratory insufficiency in neuronopathic and neuropathic disorders

Twenty-nine patients with a neuronopathic or neuropathic disorder were referred for assessment of respiratory insufficiency between 1978 and 1994. Diagnoses included spinal muscular atrophy (6), chronic idiopathic demyelinating neuropathy (4), Vialetto-van Laere syndrome (3), hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (3) and a miscellaneous group (5). We also describe seven patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) who required long-term ventilatory support for over 6 months to 7 years after the initial illness. Respiratory insufficiency occurred as a consequence of respiratory muscle weakness, impaired bulbar function and restrictive lung defects. In some groups presentation was with progressive nocturnal hypoventilation culminating in acute respiratory failure. Five patients with GBS or chronic idiopathic demyelinating neuropathy were weaned from ventilatory support up to 18 months after the initial illness. The remaining 24 patients required continuous or nocturnal ventilatory support using intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (13), negative pressure ventilation (4), nasal-mask-delivered intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (4), nasal-mask-delivered continuous positive-pressure ventilation (3), mouthpiece-assisted ventilation by day (2) and rocking bed (1). None have been weaned from support after a period of ventilation ranging from one month to 10 years. Eight patients have subsequently died.      

A fuzzy logic model for differential diagnosis of lower urinary tract dysfunctions

Lower urinary tract dysfunctions (LUTD) restrict quality of life, resulting in decreased work productivity and emotional well‐being. However, most people are not diagnosed because they do not seek medical treatment. In addition, some facilities do not adequately train health professionals in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. The study's objective was to develop a decision support system modelled on fuzzy logic that defines LUTD using the terminology of the International Continence Society. This methodological study aimed to develop a model that uses the maximum–minimum composition (max–min) of fuzzy relations that can perform differential diagnoses of LUTD. The model was tested in 100 cases (50 men and 50 women), and the data were obtained from medical records containing the clinical data and results of urodynamic studies. All medical records were reviewed by a specialist in urology. The model was capable of determining a diagnosis in full (62%) or partial (36%) agreement with the medical report. Agreement between the model and the medical report was excellent (kappa = 0·98, p ? 0·001, CI = 0·88–1) or substantial (kappa = 0·53, p ? 0·001, CI = 0·45–0·60), considering overestimative accordance (where accordance is assumed when at least one diagnosis is equal) and underestimative accordance (where accordance is assumed when all diagnoses are equal), respectively. The proposed model based on the max–min composition of fuzzy relationships is very simple and performed well. However, more tests are recommended before the model is used as a decision support system.     

Chronic treatment with tempol does not significantly ameliorate renal tissue hypoxia or disease progression in a rodent model of polycystic kidney disease

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Epidemiological survey of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in the west-central region of Guangdong Province, China

The study was to understand the Angiostrongylus cantonensis infectious situation of rodent definitive host, snail intermediate host, and local residents in the west-central region of Guangdong Province in China. The snails Achatina fulica and Pomacea canaliculata collected from the survey place were digested with artificial gastric juice, and the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis in the snails were examined under microscope. The heart and lung of rats captured from the survey place were taken to check the adult of A. cantonensis. The questionnaire surveys related to the infection of A. cantonensis were taken in local residents randomly selected, and the IgG antibody against A. cantonensis was tested in those residents with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 1,391 rats including eight kinds of rats, such as Rattus norvegicus, Rattus flavipectus, Bandicota indica, Rattus sladeni, Mus musculus, Rattus rattoides, Suncus Murinus, and Rattus confucianus, were examined and 132 of them were infected by A. cantonensis, with an average infection rate of 9.49% and a mean intensity of A. cantonensis in infected rats was 9.39. A total of 3,184 snails A. fulica and 3,723 snails P. canaliculata were detected. The average infection rates of them were 25.03% (797/3,184) and 6.50% (242/3,723), respectively. There were 180 positive samples of IgG antibody against A. cantonensis in 1,800 serum samples of the residents, with a positive rate of 10.00%. The west-central region of Guangdong Province is the natural focus of A. cantonensis. In comparison with the investigation results in other regions of China, the infection rate of rat definitive host is at the middle level; in the intermediate host, the infection rate of snail A. fulica is above the middle level, and the infection rate of snail Pomacea canaliculata is below the middle level. Some local residents had already been infected by A. cantonensis or at the risk of being infected.     

Modified Split‐Cast Technique: A New,Timesaving Clinical Remount Technique

Interocclusal discrepancies can be eliminated by a clinical remount procedure, but most practitioners avoid it because of the time involved. This article introduces a new timesaving method, the modified split‐cast technique. It uses a semi‐adjustable articulator, tin foil as plaster separator, and an addition‐type, silicone bite‐registration material. The technician does most of the remounting procedures before the denture delivery appointment, so the dentist spends very little time chairside to complete the clinical remount procedure. Compared with the conventional and two other remounting techniques, the new technique is faster and easier to manipulate.