Skin carcinogenesis and promoter binding characteristics in different mouse strains

The sensitivity of various mouse strains to skin carcinogenesishas been investigated in two ways; (i) by comparing carcinogenesisinduced by treatments involving both the application of tumourpromoters and the application of single or multiple doses ofa carcinogen, and (ii) by comparing the binding characteristicsof the tumour promoter [³H]phorbol-12,13-di-butyrate to particulateskin preparations. The mouse strains tested were Swiss albino,Balb/c, C₃H, LACA and AKR/J. Although some differences wereapparent, Swiss albino, LACA and C₃H mice were generally sensitiveto skin carcinogenesis by both benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene,either with or without promotion with croton oil. AKR/J micewere sensitive to both carcinogens with promotion but relativelyinsensitive in the absence of promotion. Balb/c mice had lowsensitivity except when exposed to repeated low doses of benzo[a]pyrene.The [³H]phorbol-12,13-dlbutyrate binding characteristics ofparticulate skin preparations from all strains were indistinguishable.     

Selective retinal reinnervation of a surgically created tectal island in goldfish. I. Light microscopic analysis

Through anatomical and physiological studies of the regenerating retinotectal projection of goldfish, we sought to determine whether the establishment of a topographic projection is attained through a refinement of an initially less precise pattern of innervation. A 1-mm-wide mediolateral strip of caudal tectum was removed so that a small island of tectal tissue was spared at the caudal pole, and the contralateral nerve was either crushed (TIX) or left intact (TI). The presence of regenerated axons in the ablated zone and the reinnervation of the caudal island were assessed with anterograde and retrograde labeling methods in the following postoperative intervals: early, 20-50 days; middle, 50-110 days; and late, more than 170 days. The anterograde radioautographic method revealed that the appropriate layers of the tectal island became reinnervated by optic axons during the early period. During the middle and late periods, one to several large, discrete bundles bridging the lesion zone along the surface of exposed subtectal structures were readily identified both by radioautography and by anterograde or retrograde labeling following application of horseradish peroxidase to the transected optic nerve or tectal island, respectively. In contrast, the anterograde horseradish peroxidase method did not reveal axon bundles extending caudal to the half-tectum in the absence of a tectal island. Among TIX cases, retrograde horseradish peroxidase labeling of the contralateral nasal retina was more widespread in the middle period than in the late period, a result we interpret as reflecting an improvement in topographical precision with time. The area of retinal labeling among TIX cases in the late period was similar to that following caudal tectal injection in cases with simple nerve crush, although it was still elevated above normal control values. Physiological maps indicated a focal representation of the nasal retina in the tectal island in both periods and did not reveal a transient extreme convergence of retinal input. These findings are discussed in relation to Sperry's chemoaffinity theory.     

A proposed network to improve access to high-quality health care for medicaid-eligible families

There is today both a need and an opportunity to develop and test a variety of models—organizational and financial—for improving the delivery of health care services. This article describes the structure and functioning of one such model and highlights the organizational problems expected to arise during its implemèntation. The proposed health plan is intended to facilitate the access of Medicaideligible, inner-city families to already available health services. The central hypothesis is that in low-income urban areas the elementary schools offer an organizational focus for the development of a health plan. As a prepaid, community-based model, this plan is designed to address the issues of accessibility, equity, accountability, continuity of care, and consumer participation, primarily through the development of a coordinating agency, the health plan office (HPO), which assures the linking of consumers and providers of health care. Adapted from the Kaiser-Permanente model, the HPO also assumes responsibility for marketing, enrollment, coordination of services, consumer advocacy, and quality surveillance.Dr. Bosch is Professor and Deputy Chairman of the Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City 10029. Dr. Merino is Assistant Professor, Mrs. Daniels is Coordinator of Community Program Planning, and Ms. Fischer is a Technical Associate in the Department. Dr. Rosenthal is Director of Dental Services, East Harlem Council for Human Services Neighborhood Health Center. The work reported in this article was conducted under a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.