Increased cell death after therapy with an Arg-Gly-Asp-linked somatostatin analog.

Receptor-targeted scintigraphy and radionuclide therapy with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs are successfully applied for somatostatin receptor-positive tumors. The synergistic effects of an apoptosis-inducing factor, for example, the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif, can increase the radiotherapeutic efficacy of these peptides. Hence, the tumoricidal effects of the hybrid peptide RGD-diethylaminetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-Tyr3-octreotate (cyclic[c](Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Tyr-Asp)-Lys(DTPA)-D-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys)-Thr), hereafter referred to as RGD-DTPA-octreotate, were evaluated in comparison with those of RGD (c(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Tyr-Asp)) and Tyr3-octreotate (D-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys)-Thr). METHODS: The therapeutic effects of RGD-111In-DTPA-octreotate, 111In-DTPA-RGD, and 111In-DTPA-Tyr3-octreotate were investigated with various cell lines by use of a colony-forming assay, and caspase-3 activity was also determined. RESULTS: Tumoricidal effects were found with 111In-DTPA-RGD, 111In-DTPA-Tyr3-octreotate, and RGD-111In-DTPA-octreotate, in order from least effective to most effective. Also, the largest increase in caspase-3 levels was found with RGD-111In-DTPA-octreotate. CONCLUSION: RGD-111In-DTPA-octreotate has more pronounced tumoricidal effects than 111In-DTPA-RGD and 111In-DTPA-Tyr3-octreotate, because of increased apoptosis, as indicated by increased caspase-3 activity.     

抗人甲状腺球蛋白单克隆抗体的制备及其对抗原决定簇特异性的研究

用杂交瘤技术建立三株分泌抗甲状腺球蛋白(TG)单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株。所获三种单克隆抗体经兔抗小鼠IgG亚类、IgM及IgA血清鉴定表明,两种为IgG_1,一种为IgA;三种含单克隆抗体小鼠腹水的滴度(ELISA法)均为51200以上;以竞争性固相抗体结合试验测定它们对抗原决定簇的特异性差异,结果发现三种单克隆抗体的抗原结合部位是不同的,但对抗原的结合有一定的相互竞争抑制现象。     

Flavonoids from the leaves ofRhododendron brachycarpum

The flavonoids isolated from the leaves ofRhododendron brachycarpum, were identified as quercetin, avicularin, quercitrin and hyperin.     

Otoconial alterations after embryonic development in hypergravity

The relation between prolonged hypergravity and structural adaptation of otoconia was studied in hamsters (n = 56). Three groups of hamsters (n = 27), were conceived and born in a centrifuge: group 1 (n = 10) 1 month under 2.5 G, group (2n = 9) 5 months under 2.5 G and 4 months under 1 G, group 3 (n = 8) 1 month under 2.5 G and 8 moths under 1 G. Control hamsters (n = 29) were conceived and born under 1 G (1 month old, n = 7; 9 months old, n = 22). Histological study of the otoconial layers (energy dispersive x-ray element analysis and scanning electron microscopy) showed similar calcium content, size, and shape in utricular and saccular otoconia in all groups. Different were the utricular otoconial size classes, large, medium-sized, a and small. The area with small otoconia increased in group 1 (p = 0.002). In group 2, the large otoconial area decreased (p < 0.001) and the medium-sized one increased (p < 0.001). In group 3, the large otoconial area decreased (p = 0.003) and the medium-sized one increased (p = 0.007). For age-related effects we found group 1 with an increased area of large otoconia (p = 0.001) and a decreased medium-sized one compared to groups 2 (p < 0.001) and 3 (p = 0.02). Hypergravity during formation of otoconia does not affect calcium content, size, or shape, but changes relative size of the areas with large, medium-sized, or small otoconia and the development of these areas. This resulted in a structural adaptation to hypergravity.     

Randomised trial comparing the upright and supine positions for the second stage of labour

Objective To assess the maternal and neonatal effects of upright compared with recumbent positions during delivery, in terms of defined outcome variables.
Design A randomised controlled trial.
Setting St Monica's Nursing Home, a midwife based maternity unit in Cape Town, South Africa.
Participants Five hundred and seventeen women of low obstetrical risk assigned to deliver at the nursing home.
Results The trial showed that women who adopted the upright posture for delivery experienced less pain, perineal trauma and fewer episiotomies than those who delivered in the supine position.
Conclusion The data suggest that in women of low obstetrical risk, choice of posture during delivery may be encouraged.     

Epidemiologic features of hepatitis B virus infection in northern Labrador.

We studied the epidemiologic features of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in northern Labrador to determine the prevalence of the infection and to obtain a database to develop a vaccination strategy. The study population included seven communities in which five ethnic groups were represented: Inuit, Innu, mixed Inuit and European ancestry ("settler"), nonnative/nonsettler transient population ("white") and people of Innu-white or Innu-Inuit origin ("mixed"). Blood samples from 2156 people (62% of the area residents) were tested for antibody to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HBV e antigen (HBeAg), anti-HBc IgM and antibody to the surface antigen (anti-HBs). The overall crude prevalence rate of HBV seromarkers was 14.7% and the HBsAg carrier rate at least 3.2%; the rates were highest for Inuit (26.4% and 6.9% respectively), followed by settler (10.0% and 1.9% respectively) and Innu (7.6% and 0.4% respectively); the white and mixed groups had the lowest overall rates (2.5% and 3.3% respectively). Although the overall prevalence rates were about the same for the two sexes, the HBsAg carrier rate was higher in males (male:female ratio 1.6:1.0). No HBV carriers were positive for HBeAg or anti-HBc IgM antibody. The rate of exposure to HBV was 4% for those below the age of 20 years and reached a peak for those aged 45 to 54 years (85% for Inuit, 40% for settlers and 37% for Innu). There was also a wide variation in the age-standardized prevalence rates (0% to 27.9%) among the ethnic groups in the seven communities surveyed.