Comparative evaluation of two combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccines based on AIK and Edmonston- Zagreb strains of measles virus.

In a previous paper, we have noticed the effectiveness of two further attenuated measles vaccines, i.e. AIK-HDC and Edmonston- Zagreb- HDC. In the present study the same strains are comparatively used for immunization of a limited number of children under 9 months of age. A seroconversion of 100% was observed. Following reimmunization, a significant increase of circulating antibodies for both strains was recorded. Two combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines were also produced by using the same measles strains. The seroconversion following utilisation of MMR prophylactics in susceptible children was 98.8 and 97.3 for AIK and Edmonston- Zagreb strains respectively.     

Severe hyperthermia during tetrabenazine therapy for tardive dyskinesia

We recently observed a 45-year-old patient with a history of psychiatric illness who presented with severe hyperthermia (rectal temperature above 41 °C) with intense rhabdomyolysis and liver cytolysis during tetrabenazine therapy for neuroleptic tardive dyskinesia. In addition to tetrabenazine, this patient took lorazepam and two antidepressant drugs: clomipramine, a potent serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, and mianserin. Hyperthermia responded to parenteral sodium dantrolene and oral bromocriptine administration. The significant role of tetrabenazine (a central nervous system dopamine-depleting drug) and the contribution of antidepressants to the mechanism of this neuroleptic malignant syndrome – like hyperthermia are discussed. Received: 16 September 1997 Accepted: 13 January 1998     

Cancer patients psychological adjustment and perception of illness: Cultural differences between Belgium and Turkey

Little is known about cultural differences in psychological adjustment and perception of illness (PI) during medical procedures in general and radiotherapy in particular. This study compares a Turkish (TP) and a French speaking Belgian (BP) population. A group of 296 consecutive patients attending the radiotherapy clinic of Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, (n = 172) and Oncology Institute, Çapa-Istanbul, (n = 124) were interviewed and assessed by a symptom checklist, the SCL-90-R, at the beginning and at the end of the radiotherapy. PI, derived from a semi-structured interview, was assessed at the beginning of radio-therapy by a five-point observer-rating scale derived from the Omega Vulnerability Rating Scale. Differences in SCL-90-R scores, taking into account country, age, gender, level of education and PI as potential explanatory variables, have been tested by a multivariate analysis of variance with a design of repeated measures using the SCL-90-R scores as dependent variables. Mainly a time effect and a country effect have been found. Some interactions between both effects have also been found. Globally, all the SCL-90-R scores decrease between the beginning and the end of the radiotherapy. The effect of country is noticeable for most of the SCL-90-R components, with higher scores in the BP, except for the positive symptom total score where the TP showed higher scores. The interaction between country and time is not significant, the scores of both the BP and TP decreasing over time, except for somatization scores (P < 0.001) where the scores of the BP were stable over time while the scores of the TP decreased considerably, and for paranoid ideation scores (P = 0.001) where the scores of the BP decreased while the scores of the BP increased. Results showed a higher rate of correct perception in the BP compared to the TP (P = 0.0001). A PI effect has been found for somatization (P = 0.02), anxiety (P = 0.01) and Global Severity Index scores (P = 0.05), with higher mean scores for the correct perception category. No interaction with time was found. A significant interaction effect between country and PI has been found for anxiety scores with higher scores in the correct perception category in the BP and in the denial of implications category in the TP (P < 0.001). Results highlight cultural differences in psychological adjustment and/or in the responses to self-report questionnaires: greater weight was given to items by the BP, more numerous items were scored by the TP, and greater weight was given to the somatization subscale compared to the psychological subscales by the TP. This study suggests that psychosocial distress is expressed differently in Belgium and Turkey, where patients express mostly somatic complaints. Finally PI, a culture-dependent factor, appears to influence psychological adjustment very differently, a correct perception of illness leading to more anxiety in the BP compared to the TP.     

Modulation of apoptosis by nitric oxide: implications in myocardial ischemia and heart failure

The purpose of this review is to summarize the regulation of apoptosis by nitric oxide (NO) and to discuss the potential role that NO plays in cardiomyocyte apoptosis during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion and development of heart failure. NO is an important regulator of apoptosis within the mammalian system, capable of both inducing and preventing apoptosis, depending upon the level of NO production and environmental milieu. This bifunctional capacity is well illustrated in the heart. It appears that high levels of NO produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promote apoptosis while basal levels of NO production from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protect cardiomyocytes from apoptosis. Since permanent loss of cardiomyocytes due to apoptosis contributes to the development of heart failure, inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis may have therapeutic implications. Given its pro- and anti-apoptotic capacity within the heart, NO may serve as a valuable therapeutic target in myocardial ischemia and heart failure.     

Professional rehabilitation of lymphoma patients: a study of psychosocial factors associated with return to work

During the last ten years a substantial reduction in mortality has been obtained for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Since lymphoma treatment is often accompanied by side effects and long-term sequelae, however, patients often have problems with rehabilitation. It is thus very important that these problems and needs be identified. Going back to work is one of the main objectives of rehabilitation and can be taken as a valuable indicator of the problems and needs of such patients. We therefore conducted a study at the Jules Bordet Institute between December 1989 and December 1990. Of the patients in remission and able to go back to work, only 54% of them have done so. Anxiety, depression, and treatment toxicity interfere with return to work, and the likelihood of job reentry increases with the time lapse since the end of treatment. Rehabilitation programs must focus on alleviating illness and treatment sequelae as soon as treatment ends.Presented among best proffered papers at the 4th International Symposium: Supportive Care in Cancer, St. Gallen, Switzerland, 24–27 February 1993     

A comparative study of three treatment methods of direct pulp capping in canine teeth of cats: a histologic evaluation

Direct pulp capping (DPC) is coverage of exposed pulp by a biocompatible material after traumatic or carious exposure. The purpose of this procedure is to seal this spot against bacterial leakage, stimulate dentinal barrier formation, and maintain the vitality of the pulp. Several factors contribute to the consequence of this treatment, such as the kind of material used and the procedural technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically the outcome of DPC using three methods. Thirty-six canine teeth of nine cats were selected for this experiment. After the cats had been anesthetized, the teeth were exposed under sterile condition. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups. In group I, the exposed pulp was covered with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) alone. In group II, the pulp, after being treated with erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser (energy = 200 mJ, pulse duration = 700 micros, repetition rate = 3 Hz, exposure time = 15 s, no air, no water, beam diameter = 0.6 mm), was covered with MTA. In group III, the pulp was treated with laser and covered with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)(2)]. All cavities were filled with amalgam after DPC. After 4 months, the animals were sacrificed and block sections were prepared. The specimens were histologically evaluated. The data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests. Dentinal barrier had formed in all groups. The laser + MTA group showed little superiority to the other groups in dentinal barrier formation, type and intensity of inflammatory responses, and soft tissue changes, especially necrosis, but these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). We concluded that laser + MTA produced better healing. According to the conditions in this study, Er:YAG laser could be used in direct pulp capping treatment in combination with both common materials.     

Renal vascular inflammation induced by Western diet in ApoE-null mice quantified by 19F NMR of VCAM-1 targeted nanobeacons

We have designed multifunctional nanoparticulate reporter bioprobes capable of targeting vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), which is up-regulated in numerous inflammatory processes. These perfluorocarbon-cored nanoparticles emit a unique ¹⁹F magnetic resonance (MR) signature, providing the potential to localize and quantify VCAM-1 expression in early atherosclerosis. Nanoparticle-VCAM-1 targeting specificity was confirmed by in vitro binding and competition studies. ApoE-null and control C57-BL6 mice (n = 6/group), fed a Western diet for 35 weeks, were injected i.v. with targeted or non-targeted nanoparticles. After two hours, kidneys were excised and prepared for analysis. ApoE-null kidneys exhibited increased VCAM-1-targeted nanoparticle content over healthy controls by ¹⁹F MR spectroscopy (36.5+8.8 vs. 9.3+2.2 × 10⁸/g, P < .05), which correlated with increased VCAM-1 staining (2.5 ± 1.3% vs. 0.9 ± 0.3%, P < .05); their relative biodistributions were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and MR imaging. These molecular imaging agents offer new approaches for detection, quantification, and longitudinal evaluation of early inflammation utilising ¹⁹F MR spectroscopy and imaging.From the Clinical EditorMultifunctional nanoparticulate reporter bioprobes capable of targeting vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) are reported in this paper. These perfluorocarbon-cored nanoparticles offer new approaches for detection, quantification, and longitudinal evaluation of early inflammation utilising 19F MR spectroscopy and imaging.