Interleukin 1 as a tumor cytostatic mediator released from tumor ascites-treated macrophages

Peritoneal macrophages from DBA/2 mice, elicited by injection of Corynebacterium parvum (C.p.), were in vitro activated to Eb tumor cytostasis by incubation with tumor-induced ascites that was harvested 7 days after intraperitoneal Eb injection. The active cytostasis-mediating compound was found to be interleukin 1 (IL 1). When tumor ascites was fractionated according to molecular weight size, the most active IL 1-inducing fraction was found to comprise molecules of greater than 100,000 daltons. The data show that tumor-bearing hosts are capable of producing compounds that induce a high IL 1 secretion which may enable macrophages to mount an antiproliferative effect against tumor cells.     

Alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase/P504S overexpression in colorectal carcinoma is correlated with tumor differentiation.

Alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR)/P504S is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of branched-chain fatty acids. Little is known about correlation of AMACR expression with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) differentiation and prognosis. We investigated the expression of AMACR in 106 cases of primary CRC, and in 47 lymph nodes with metastatic CRC by immunohistochemical analysis. These cases were divided into 3 groups according to the histologic differentiation of the primary tumors. group A included 50 cases of histologically well and moderately differentiated CRCs, 20 of these with lymph node metastasis; group B included 23 cases of well and moderately differentiated CRCs, histologically similar to group A, except these tumors had small foci (less than 20%) of high-grade carcinoma, and 10 of these had lymph node metastasis; group C included 33 cases of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma, 17 with lymph node metastasis. The results showed the overall positive rates of expression in primary and metastatic CRCs were 59.4% and 46.8%, respectively. Expression in groups A (76.0%) and B (69.6%) was much higher than that in group C (27.3%). In group B, although overexpression of AMACR in primary tumors was similar to that of group A, it was only seen in 30.0% of group B metastatic tumors, which was similar to the rate of expression in group C (23.5%). In contrast, rates of expression in group A primary and metastatic tumors were similar (80.0% and 75.0%). Positive staining for AMACR in benign epithelium adjacent to tumor was rare (<2%). No relation was found between AMACR expression and overall survival. Our findings support the view that the expression of AMACR in CRC is correlated with tumor differentiation.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of poly(enaminonitriles) containing flexible ether units

Poly(enaminonitriles) containing flexible alkyl ether units were prepared by reacting p-bis(1-chloro-2,2-dicyanovinyl)benzene with various α,ω-bis(4-aminophenoxy)alkanes in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). All the polymers are soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and NMP as well as in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and acetone. High molecular weight polymers possessing inherent viscosities in the range of 0.82–1.20 dL/g were obtained and tough films were cast from a DMF solution. They showed a large exotherm around 340°C attributable to the chemical changes of the dicyanovinyl group. Thermogravimetric analyses exhibited a good thermal stability with a 10% weight loss around 450°C and 73–88% residual weight at 500°C under nitrogen.     

CART: from gene to function

CART was identified as a novel mRNA regulated by psychostimulant drugs. CART peptides appear to be neurotransmitters involved in a variety of functions such as feeding. The mouse gene has been characterized and localized to Chromosome 13. The processing of CART peptides is evident in Western blotting studies.     

Cochlear degeneration in guinea pigs after repeated hyperbaric exposures.

The effects of repeated hyperbaric exposures on inner ear function and morphology in guinea pigs were investigated with auditory electrophysiological testing, histopathological and electron microscopic techniques associated with enzyme histochemical method. The results showed that repeated hyperbaric exposures, though considered "safe," did cause damage to the cochlear system. Possible causes of the pathology include direct effects of repeated compression and decompression on the ear, and the possibility of inner ear decompression sickness and barotrauma cannot be excluded.     

Chronic illness in adolescents: Transfer or transition to adult services?

It is widely believed that the improved survival of young people with chronic diseases will be associated with the development of appropriate services within the adult healthcare domain. There is, however, little evidence to suggest that this is happening at a rate commensurate with clinical requirements. This paper highlights the multiplicity of barriers that impede the development of transition services to facilitate the transfer of medical care from the paediatric to the adult domain. Different models of transition care are described, and the terms 'transfer' and 'transition' are differentiated. The clinical demand for service development is highlighted, as well as the need for specific research in this area of healthcare delivery.     

β-内酰胺酶抑制短肽SIPIS04-01的表达、纯化与抑制作用测定

通过酵母双杂交系统从一个随机DNA片段文库中筛选到一个编码能与β-内酰胺酶结合的短肽SIPIS04—01的DNA序列，将它克隆到pGEX-4T-1的多克隆位点中，得到重组质粒pYG205。当用适量的IPTG诱导后，携带pYG205的E．coli DH5α能表达短肽SIPIS04-01-GST融合蛋白。利用谷胱甘肽Sepharose 4B亲和层析介质分离纯化短肽SIPIS04-01-GST融合蛋白，经凝血酶切割并分离纯化后，体外试验表明短肽SIPIS04-01具有抑制β-内酰胺酶的作用。     

乡镇卫生院生存状况

长期以来，由于各地卫生部门的重视程度不够，乡、镇医疗机构职工人心涣散，机构业务极度萎缩，经济效益低下，连年亏损甚至濒临倒闭。透视乡镇卫生院面临的生存困难，我们不难发现，出现这种局面的原因是多方面的。