Inflammatory conversion of quiescent osteoblasts by metastatic breast cancer cells through pERK1/2 aggravates cancer-induced bone destruction

INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women. More than 271270 new cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2019, resulting in more than...     

Bases for maternal perceptions of infant crying and colic behaviour

According to the commonest definition, infant colic is distinguished by crying which is 'paroxysmal'-that is, intense and different in type from normal fussing and crying. To test this, maternal reports of the distress type of 67 infants whose fuss/crying usually exceeded three hours a day ('persistent criers') were scrutinised using 24 hour audiorecordings of the infants' distressed vocalisation. 'Moderate criers' (n = 55) and 'evening criers' (n = 38) were also assessed. Most of the distress in all three groups was fussing. In the audiorecordings the persistent criers showed a higher crying: fussing ratio than the moderate criers, but intense crying was rare. A third of the persistent criers were reported by their mothers to have occasional, distinct colic bouts of 'intense, unsoothable crying and other behaviour, perhaps due to stomach or bowel pain.' In the audiorecordings these periods were longer, but not paroxysmal in onset or more intense than the crying of persistent criers not judged to have colic. The audible features of the crying may be less important than its unpredictable, prolonged, hard to soothe, and unexplained nature.     

The bird's nest inferior vena cava filter: progress report

The bird's nest inferior vena cava filter, in clinical trial since 1982, has been placed in 568 patients at risk for pulmonary embolism. Of the 481 patients in whom the filter had been in place for 6 months or more, 440 were followed up clinically. The prevalence of clinically suspected recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism was 2.7% (12 patients) and that of inferior vena cava filter occlusion was 2.9% (13 patients). With the initial filter design, filter migration occurred in five patients. No migrations have occurred in the 147 patients treated with the filter after its modification to improve the anchoring system for greater stability. The bird's nest filter has proved safe and effective in the prevention of pulmonary embolism.     

正常大鼠肝内门－体分流的研究

经大鼠门静脉注射乳胶微球，以完全阻塞肝内的门静脉分支，并观察门静脉压力（ＰＶＰ）的变化。结果表明，门静脉内注射直径为１５或８０μｍ的微球使ＰＶＰ分别增加了１０２．２％和２７２．３％；顺序注射不同组合的微球（１５μｍ＋４０μｍ＋８０μｍ或８０μｍ＋４０μｍ＋１５μｍ）并未使ＰＶＰ获得进一步的升高（分别增加了１６２．８％和１７８．６％）。尽管门静脉内注射乳胶微球可使ＰＶＰ显著升高，但却无法达到肝外门静脉钳闭时的高度（４．８７～５．７５ｋＰａ）。肝静脉楔入压（ＷＨＶＰ）于门静脉钳闭时明显下降，但在注射１５μｍ的微球后却与ＰＶＰ同步升高。所有实验鼠肺内均发现有许多微球。上述结果提示正常大鼠可能存在肝内门－体分流。     

Sensitivity and specificity of first screen mammography in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study: a preliminary report from five centers

Sensitivity and specificity of first screen mammography in a randomized screening trial at five centers are reported. A total of 23,101 women underwent mammography; in 139, breast cancer was detected at first screening; in 20, less than 12 months after first screening; and in 47, at second screening. All 206 cancer cases were histologically confirmed, and 174 were defined as being detectable at first screening. Average length of follow-up for all women was 3.2 years. Interpretations of first screen mammograms by the center radiologists were matched to known outcomes. Simultaneous blind review was performed by a single reference radiologist with mammograms from all 206 cancer cases and those of a random sample of 739 women not known to have breast cancer at 15 months or more after initial screening. Overall, the five screening centers achieved a sensitivity of 69% (range, 60%-78%), a specificity of 94% (range, 93%-96%), a positive predictive value of 8.6% (range, 3%-16%), and a negative predictive value of 99.7% (range, 99.6%-99.9%).     

Efficacy of low-pressure foam cleaning compared to conventional cleaning methods in the removal of bacteria from surfaces associated with convenience food

Background

Food borne illnesses and food poisoning are cause for concern globally. The diseases are often caused by food contamination with pathogenic bacteria due largely to poor sanitary habits or storage conditions.

Objectives

Prevalence of some bacteria on cleaned and sanitised food contact surfaces from eight convenience food plants in Gauteng (South Africa) was investigated with the view to evaluate the efficacy of the cleaning methods used with such food contact surfaces

Methods

The microbial load of eight convenience food manufacturing plants was determined by sampling stainless steel food contact surfaces after they had been cleaned and sanitised at the end of a day''s shift. Samples were analysed for Total Plate Count (TPC), Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria species.

Results

Results showed that 59 % of the total areas sampled for TPC failed to comply with the legal requirements for surfaces, according to the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (< 100 cfu.cm⁻²). S. aureus and Salmonella were not detected, but Listeria was detected in 23 % and E. coli in 1.3 % of the samples. Fifty percent (50 %) of the plants applied conventional cleaning methods for cleaning and sanitation and 50 % used the low-pressure foam (LPF) method. There was significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) between the mean TPC values of the conventional cleaning method (14 358.82) compared to that of LPF method (2 386.51) but no significant difference (P > 0.05) in terms of Listeria species isolates obtained from both cleaning methods. The LPF method proved to be the superior cleaning option for lowering TPC counts.

Conclusion

Regardless of cleaning method used, pathogens continued to flourish on various surfaces, including dry stainless steel, posing a contamination hazard for a considerable period depending on the contamination level and type of pathogen. Intensive training for proper chemical usage and strict procedural compliance among workers for efficient cleaning procedures is recommended.     

云南恶性疟原虫氯喹抗药性基因76位点突变研究

目的研究云南恶性疟原虫氯喹抗药性基因(pfcrt)76位点突变的情况,以及与抗药性表现型的关系。方法应用PCR和限制性酶切片段长度分析方法,检测现症病人干滤纸血样的恶性疟原虫pfcrt基因点突变。结果云南省恶性疟原虫pfcrt基因76位点的突变型很高,占85.0%(51/60);野生型和混合型较少,分别占8.3%(5/60)和6.7%(4/60)。体内法测定的氯喹抗性和敏感样本均有pfcrt76突变型;体外法测定的17份氯喹抗性样本中,有13份带有pf-crt76突变型。结论云南省恶性疟原虫pfcrt基因氨基酸编码76位点突变频度很高。体内和体外法测定的氯喹抗性表现与pfcrt76突变型有较高的一致性。