Utilization of retrieved oocytes as an index of the efficiency of superovulation strategies for in-vitro fertilization treatment

An analysis of 581 in-vitro fertilization treatment cycles was carried out to determine the pattern of utilization of retrieved oocytes. Patients were divided into five groups depending on the number of retrieved oocytes. The mean fertilization rate of 57% was broadly similar amongst the groups but the proportion of retrieved oocytes that produced embryos of a quality suitable for transfer or cryopreservation (the cycle efficiency index) fell significantly with increase in the retrieved oocyte number. However, the pregnancy rate increased with the number of retrieved oocytes (13-38%). It is important to determine the point at which advantages of multifollicular development are outweighed by the potential for complications. Increased utilization of retrieved oocytes will decrease the need for production of a large number of oocytes.      

Studies on the mechanism of complement-mediated inhibition of antibody binding to HIV gp41

We have previously demonstrated that HIV envelope gp41 binding to specific antibodies decreases after preincubation of fluid-phase gp41 in normal human serum. This inhibition is proven to be mediated by the classical complement pathway. In this study recombinant gp41 (rgp41) and/or synthetic peptides were preadsorbed to solid phase, and then complement (normal human serum heated human serum, purified Clq/heated Clq) and anti-gp41 antibodies were added either after each other or simultaneously, and the amounts of bound antibody, and deposited C3b, C4b and Clq were measured. Complement-dependent inhibition of antibody binding to solid-phase rgp41 was found, and Clq seems to be at least partially responsible for this phenomenon. Heating of Clq did not affect this process. Higher amounts of anti-gp41 antibodies significantly and dose-dependently enhanced C4b and C3b fixation to solid-phase rgp41. In the case of synthetic peptides corresponding to the immunodominant region of gp41, significant antibody binding to the solid-phase peptides was also detected, and pretreatment of peptides preadsorbed to solid phase with normal human serum almost totally abolished the antibody binding.     

经动脉药盒化疗治疗转移性黑色素瘤病人的护理

[目的]总结经动脉药盒化疗治疗转移性黑色素瘤病人的护理。[方法]对10例转移性黑色素瘤病人行动脉药盒植入术,利用动脉药盒进行化疗,并做好治疗前、中、后的护理。[结果]10例病人中1例出现化疗药物外渗终止治疗,其余均能按计划完成治疗。[结论]掌握动脉药盒植入后的护理操作方法是行动脉灌注化疗的关键,有利于治疗的顺利进行。     

Facial palsy in an infant with coarctation of the aorta and hypertension

We report the unusual association of facial palsy and severe hypertension in an infant with coarctation of the aorta. The facial palsy resolved before the hypertension was cured.     

An unusual congenital dorsal midline thoracic mass

Objective : To describe the presentation and investigation of an unusual form of congenital dorsal midline thoracic mass.
Results : An infant born by emergency Caesarean section at 34 weeks gestation was found to have a large dorsal midline thoracic mass. The infant had normal neurological function in all limbs. Radiological investigation showed no abnormality in the vertebrae. Ultrasonographic investigation suggested the mass to consist of subcutaneous oedema. The mass resolved completely within the first 2 weeks.
Conclusions : The lesion observed in this infant represents a very unusual location for a benign condition caused by cervical pressure on the presenting fetal part. The use of ultrasonography enabled rapid exclusion of the more common, potentially serious, causes of a congenital midline dorsal thoracic mass.     

Combination chemotherapy in advanced gastrointestinal cancers: ex vivo sensitivity to gemcitabine and mitomycin C

Advanced or metastatic disease is common in both oesophagogastric and colorectal cancers, with poor 5-year survival despite palliative chemotherapy. We have investigated the sensitivity of gastrointestinal tumours to gemcitabine in combination with mitomycin C (GeM), using a modified ex vivo ATP-based tumour chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA). Tumour material from 41 colorectal and 22 oesophagogastric cancers were assessed. The GeM combination showed variable but definite activity in most of the samples tested. The results show that GeM achieves >95% inhibition at concentrations within the range achievable clinically in 60% of colorectal tumours (21 out of 35) and 38% of oesophagogastric tumours (five out of 13) tested. We did not identify any significant difference in sensitivity using concurrent or sequential exposure of tumour-derived cells to these two drugs. The results from this study suggest that GeM may be a useful combination in the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal malignancy.     

Maternal behaviors: evidence that they feed back to alter brain morphology and function

We review evidence suggesting that the brain of maternally behaving rats is altered as a result of the behavior of the animal towards her pups. Morphological changes seen in the supraoptic nucleus, which contains oxytocinergic neurons important for lactation, are observed not only in parturient, lactating animals but also in virgin animals induced by the presence of rat pups to behave maternally. The supraoptic nuclei of lactating and maternally behaving virgin animals have a higher incidence of dendritic bundling relative to non-maternal virgin animals. Also, stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract in in vitro brain slices elevates electrotonic coupling among supraoptic neurons only in maternally behaving animals and not in male or non-maternal virgins. In general the evidence presented supports the idea that maternal behavior in lactating and non-lactating animals, can have profound effects on the morphology and physiological functioning of oxytocinergic neurons in the hypothalamus.     

Cytokine imbalance in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis

A reactive ability of immunocompetent cells was assessed by the level of cytokines TNF alpha and IL-8 estimated by enzyme immunoassay ("Genzyme diagnostics" kit) in 18 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis (mean age 58 +/- 4.2 years, mean duration of the disease 11.2 +/- 5.2 years) and 15 control patients matched for age, with normal external respiration function, free of chronic bronchopulmonary pathology and allergic diseases. The greatest differences in cytokine levels were registered between the control group and patients with moderate generalized irreversible obstruction. These patients had similar basal and E. coli LPS induced synthesis of the above cytokines showing the lack of cell reserves, adequate immune response to exogenic antigen.