National Study of Women with Physical Disabilities: Final Report

The final report of the National Study on Women with Disabilities provides an overview of the research conducted from 1992 to 1996 at the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities. The report addresses the methodologies used in the recruitment of women and reviews the various analyses conducted on the data. In addition, the report provides a discussion of recruitment techniques used for nondisabled women and the analysis used for this population as well. It provides a summary of findings in the areas of sense of self, relationships, information about sexuality, sexual functioning, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, abuse, chronic conditions, health maintenance behaviors, gynecologic health, and health care utilization.     

Immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene configuration in acute lymphoblastic leukemia of infancy

We examined immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain, K light chain, and T cell receptor (TCR) gamma and beta gene configuration in the leukemic cells from a series of infants aged less than 1 year with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Each of these 11 cases demonstrated leukemic cell surface antigens that have been correlated with a B cell precursor phenotype. Of the 11, lymphoblasts of 4 retained the germline configuration of both Ig and TCR loci, whereas 7 had rearranged the Ig heavy chain gene. Two of these seven showed light chain gene rearrangement. TCB beta chain rearrangement had occurred in only one of the 11 patients' tumors. No TCR gamma chain rearrangements were identified. These results are in contrast to earlier studies of B cell precursor ALL in children in which Ig heavy chain gene rearrangements were evident in every case and approximately 40% showed Ig light chain rearrangement as well. In addition, 45% of cases of B cell precursor ALL of children had rearranged their gamma TCR genes, and 20% had rearranged beta. These data suggest that ALL in infancy represents an earlier stage of B cell development than is found in B cell precursor ALL of children. ALL in the infant age group has been associated with the worst prognosis of all patients with ALL. This study suggests that the disease in infants differs not only clinically, but also at the molecular genetic level, from the disease in children.     

Postoperative adhesion formation and reproductive outcome using Interceed after ovarian surgery: a randomized trial in the rabbit model

The efficacy of an oxidized regenerated cellulose barrier (Interceed) in reducing postoperative adhesion formation and improving reproductive outcome after ovarian surgery was evaluated in a prospective randomized trial. Twenty-nine New Zealand White female rabbits were submitted to a mid-line laparotomy and a standardized surgical incision was made on both ovaries. At random, one ovary was entirely wrapped in a sheet of Interceed, whereas the contralateral ovary was left uncovered. Four weeks following surgery, the rabbits were mated with a male of proven fertility. Two weeks later, a second-look laparotomy was performed by a blinded observer who evaluated the incidence and score of adhesions, the number of corpora lutea in each ovary, the number of embryos in the ipsilateral uterine horn and also calculated the nidation index for each side. Adhesions were observed in 66% of Interceed-covered and in 97% of control ovaries (P < 0.0001). The adhesion score on the Interceed side was significantly lower than on the control side. The nidation index for the Interceed side was significantly higher than for the control side. The authors conclude that, in the rabbit model, Interceed significantly reduces the incidence and score of postoperative ovarian adhesions and significantly improves reproductive outcome.      

OLTIPRAZ对小鼠日本血吸虫病的初步治疗

Oltipraz is a new drug against Schistosomiasis mansoni and was used to treat mice Schistosorniasis japonica in our laboratory. The results showed that 48 h after oral administraction of oltipraz at a single dose of 900 mg/kg, 97% Schistosomes in mice infected with Schistosomiasis japonica schifted to the liver of the host. About half of these worms returned to the mesenteric veins in 96 h. Infected mice was given oltipraz orally at the dose of 900 mg/kg.d for 3～5 days, and killed in 28 days after the last dose. Over 95% total worm reduction rate was found.Schistosomes in infected mice treated with oltipraz were collected for histological observation. The results showed that the tegument of schistosomes were damaged and host cells invaded into the worm body; and granuloma formation of dead worm was observed.During the treatment, food uptake and body weight of the infected mice were decreased, but regained soon after the cessation of the treatment.     

麝香的药理研究 Ⅱ.麝香及其有效成分的抗炎作用

麝香水提物对小鼠巴豆油耳部炎症,大鼠琼脂性关节肿、酵母性关节肿、佐剂型多发性关节炎均具非常显著的抑制作用。对大鼠烫伤性血管渗透性增加、羧甲基纤维素引起的腹腔白细胞游走亦具非常明显的抑制作用。静脉注射麝香1号对巴豆油小鼠耳炎症的50%抑制剂量为0.63 mg/kg,为氢化可的松作用强度的36倍,如以克分子剂量相比,则为氢化可的松的500倍以上。静脉注射麝香水提物对小鼠的LD_(50)及95%可信限为848±104 mg/kg。     

Alteration and abnormal expression of the c-myc oncogene in human multiple myeloma

Structural alterations of the c-myc oncogene in human Burkitt's lymphoma and mouse plasmacytoma suggest that this oncogene is involved in several B cell neoplasms. The possibility of c-myc alterations in human myeloma has not been explored, probably because the low proliferative activity characteristic of this tumor impairs the propagation of representative cell lines for the performance of adequate cytogenetic studies. This report describes alterations in the c-myc locus with concomitant elevated expression of mRNA in the tumor cells of two of 37 patients with multiple myeloma. In one case, somatic cell hybrid studies revealed that the cloned rearranged DNA was entirely derived from chromosome 8, thus indicating a novel mechanism of c-myc activation different from that in Burkitt's lymphoma. Seven other patients exhibited five- to 12-fold overexpression of c-myc RNA when compared with normal marrow cells. Elevated mRNA expression in about one fourth of our patients suggests that the c-myc oncogene has a pathogenetic role in the evolution of multiple myeloma.