Scintigraphic detection of oral cancer with early bone scintigraphic image

In 117 patients with oral cancer who were examined scintigraphically and histopathologically, the tumor blood flow was estimated scintigraphically immediately after administration of^99mTc-Hydroxymethylene-diphosphate (^99mTc-HMDP). The radioactivity was measured in the venous phase (30 to 40 seconds after administration) and in the blood pool phase (1 to 3 minutes), and the radioactivity ratios of the tumor to the control region in both phases, (venous ratio, VR and blood pool ratio, BPR, respectively) were calculated. The early image with^99mTc-HMDP (early image) was obtained 5 minutes after administration, and the image with⁶⁷Ga-citrate (Ga-image) was obtained 3 days after administration. Among the tumor classified histopathologically as showing rich, intermediate and poor vascularity, those with poor vascularity showed small VR (M±SD=0.97±0.08) and BPR (1.02±0.04), whereas those with rich vascularity showed large VR (1.39±0.01) and BPR (1.31±0.16). Early image demonstrating tumor was frequent among tumors with large VR (78%) and with large BPR (100%). Of tumors under 3 cm in diameter, 65% showed intermediate or rich vascularity and positive early image for tumor blood flow. These results suggest that the detection of small soft tissue tumors can be improved by combining the early image with the Ga-image.     

A light-driven rhythm in neurotensin-like immunoreactivity in the chicken retina

Purpose: To determine if the pattern of release of neurotensin from the enkephalin-, neurotensin- and somatostatin-like immunoreactive amacrine cells in response to light and dark is the same as that of the enkephalins and somatostatin. Methods/Results: Both the enkephalins and somatostatin are released at high rates in the dark and at lower rates in the light, and these rate changes are reflected in increasing intracellular levels of the peptides in vivo in the light and decreasing levels in the dark The levels of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity show a similar diurnal light-driven and non-circadian rhythm in vivo. Conclusion: This implies that the actual release rates of neurotensin follow the same patterns as those demonstrated in vitro for the enkephalins and somatostatin.     

BRIEF HOSPITALIZATION : RESULTS OF TWO-YEAR FOLLOW UP

Brief hospitalization contributes to quicker and more effective recovery in psychiatric practice. It also leads to a progressive change in the pattern of mental morbidity. Two-year follow-up of patients treated with this technique indicates that recovery is sustained, and relapse/wastage rate is low. There is need for further research in this significant aspect of military medicine.KEY WORDS: Follow-up studies, Hospitalization, Length of stay, Outcome assessment     

Fractionated total body irradiation and high-dose etoposide as a preparatory regimen for bone marrow transplantation for 99 patients with acute leukemia in first complete remission

Ninety-nine consecutive patients with acute leukemia in first complete remission under age 50 (median age 27 years; age range 1 to 47 years) with a histocompatible sibling donor were treated with fractionated total body irradiation (1,320 cGy) and high-dose etoposide (60 mg/kg) followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Sixty-one patients were diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 34 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 3 patients with biphenotypic acute leukemia, and 1 patient with acute undifferentiated leukemia. Thirty of the 34 patients with ALL had at least one of the following high-risk factors: age greater than 30, white blood cell count at presentation > 25,000/microL, extramedullary disease, certain chromosomal translocations, or the need for greater than 4 weeks of induction chemotherapy to achieve first complete remission. Cumulative probabilities of disease-free survival and relapse at 3 years were 61% and 12%, respectively, for the 61 patients with AML and 64% and 12%, respectively, for the 34 patients with ALL. By stepwise Cox regression analysis, significant prognostic variables for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were the presence of acute graft-versus-host disease and increasing age, whereas for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, significant variables were age and the development of cytomegalovirus-associated interstitial pneumonia. Complications related to graft-versus-host disease and relapse of leukemia were the major causes of death.     

Prevalence and infectivity of hepatitis G virus and its strain variant, the GB agent, in volunteer blood donors in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) and its strain variant, the GB agent (GBV-C) is high in non-virus-inactivated plasma products, but, persistent infection in recipients is relatively low. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Stored samples from transfusion donors and recipients in a prospective study of posttransfusion hepatitis were tested for HGV RNA and antibody to the E2 protein (anti-E2). RESULTS: Thirty-two (2.1%) of the 1500 qualified donors were positive for HGV RNA. Twenty-four persons had received a transfusion of blood from one of these 32 viremic donors. Of these 24 recipients, 3 were positive for HGV RNA before transfusion. Of the remaining 21 recipients, 8 became viremic after transfusion, while the other 13 were not infected. Four of the eight infected recipients were persistently positive for HGV RNA, while four became negative in 1 to 3 years. Three of the four patients with HGV clearance seroconverted to anti-E2 positivity. Comparison of the viral titer, viral sequences at E2, storage period of blood donations, and clinical data in the infected and noninfected recipients revealed no significant differences. However, the noninfected recipients seemed to have a higher prevalence of anti-E2 before transfusion. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HGV viremia in volunteer blood donors in Taiwan is 2.1 percent, and blood from 0.6 percent of them actually causes HGV infection in the recipients. In half of infected recipients, clearance of HGV occurs. Anti-E2 appears in most recipients whose viremia is cleared.     

The Experience of Pregnancy and Birth with Midwives: Results from the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey

Abstract: Background: In Canada maternity care is publicly funded, and although women may choose their care providers, choices may be limited. The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of maternity outcomes and experiences of those who received care from midwives with those who received care from other providers. Methods: Based on the 2006 Canadian census, a random sample of women (n = 6,421) who had recently given birth in Canada completed a computer‐assisted telephone interview for the Maternity Experiences Survey. The sample was stratified according to province or territory where birth occurred, age, rural or urban residence, and presence of other children in the home. Those who were 15 years of age and older, gave birth to a singleton baby, and were living with their infant were eligible for inclusion. Results: Women whose primary prenatal providers were midwives had fewer ultrasounds and were more likely to attend prenatal classes and have at least five or more prenatal visits. They were also more likely to rate satisfaction with their maternity experience as “very positive” and be satisfied with information provided on a variety of pregnancy and birth topics if their primary prenatal provider was a midwife. They were almost half as likely to experience induction and 7.33 times more likely to experience a medication‐free delivery. They were more likely to initiate and maintain breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months. Conclusions: Evidence shows that midwifery outcomes and levels of satisfaction meet or exceed Canadian maternity care standards. Facilitation of the continuing integration of midwives as autonomous practitioners throughout Canada is recommended. (BIRTH 38:3 September 2011)     

脑内GABA能神经元对红藻氨酸中枢性心血管效应的影响

采用侧脑室微最注射法证明,谷氯酸受体哑型激动剂红藻氨酸(KA)可依剂量性地升高大鼠血压和加快心率。预先给予GABA合成抑制剂氮基脲140 mg/kg ip或GABA拮抗剂印防己毒1 mg/kg iv均可明显增强KA的作用;而GABA转氨酶抑制剂氨氧乙酸25μg/rat icv明显减弱KA的作用。结果表明,脑内GABA能神经元功能受抑,KA的中枢性心血管效应增强。从而推测,脑内GABA能神经元与谷氯酸能神经元之间相互制约,共同参与中枢性调节心血管的活动。     

Characterization of a new megakaryocytic cell line: the Dami cell

A new human megakaryocytic cell line (Dami) has been established from the blood of a patient with megakaryoblastic leukemia. The Dami cells grow primarily in suspension with a doubling time of 24 to 30 hours. By light and electron microscopy, the Dami cells range in size from 12 to 120 micron in diameter and have lobulated nuclei characteristic of megakaryocytes. At least 89% of the cells react with monoclonal antibodies against platelet glycoproteins (GP) Ib and IIB/IIIa, and glycophorin. The cells do not react with antibodies against lymphoid, monocyte, granulocyte, or macrophage antigens. Thirteen percent of the cells become polyploid, spontaneously achieving greater than 4N DNA ploidy levels. In response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the proportion of cells with ploidy levels greater than 4N increased threefold and could be separated into discrete ploidy groups. PMA also increased the expression of GPIb, the GPIIb/GPIIIa complex,l and von Willebrand factor. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a human male hyperdiploid karyotype with a modal chromosome number of 54 to 64 and several consistent clonal chromosomal abnormalities. These included a partial deletion of chromosome 5 and a translocation involving chromosome 3. In contrast to other megakaryocytic cell lines in which only a small portion of the cells express the megakaryocytic phenotype, nearly all of the Dami cells express platelet glycoproteins. Thus, the Dami cells provide a superior model in which to study human megakaryocyte biochemistry and differentiation.