Mitogenic activity of steroidogenesis-inducing protein (SIP) during hypoxic stress of human ovarian carcinoma cells

Steroidogenesis-inducing protein (SIP) is a novel growth factor isolated from human ovarian follicular fluid. While the steroidogenic and mitogenic effects appear to be restricted towards gonadal cell types, we have recently demonstrated that SIP is also a potent mitogen for cell lines derived from ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas. Here, we demonstrate that SIP reverses hypoxia-induced cell proliferation arrest of the human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKA, as determined by flow cytometry and cell proliferation assays. Concomitant with this reversal of proliferation arrest is an increase in expression of cyclins D and E and a reduction in expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. Pretreatment of hypoxic SKA cells with SIP is also shown to increase Taxol sensitivity of these cells by two-fold. These studies further characterize the mitogenic activity of SIP at the molecular level and suggest that this protein may be an effective biological response modifier for ovarian carcinoma cells.     

The Five Factor Model of personality applied to adults who stutter

Previous research has not explored the Five Factor Model of personality among adults who stutter. Therefore, the present study investigated the five personality domains of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, as measured by the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), in a sample of 93 adults seeking speech treatment for stuttering, and compared these scores with normative data from an Australian and a United States sample. Results revealed that NEO-FFI scores for the stuttering group were within the ‘average’ range for all five personality domains. However, adults who stutter were characterized by significantly higher Neuroticism, and significantly lower Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, than normative samples. No significant differences were found between groups on the dimensions of Extraversion and Openness. These results are discussed with reference to the relationship between personality factors among adults who stutter, their directionality, and implications for predicting treatment outcome.Learning outcomes: The reader will be able to: (1) describe the Five Factor Model of personality, including the NEO-FFI personality domains of Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, and (2) discuss differences in NEO-FFI domain scores between adults who stutter and normative samples, and (3) understand the clinical implications of personality profiles in terms of treatment process and outcome for adults who stutter.     

“Ears They Have”

Multiple tissues from 70 autopsy cases in Tucson, Ariz, during 1967 and 1968 were analyzed for chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide residues. Levels of dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), its dehydrochlorinated metabolic derivative, DDE, and dieldrin are not remarkably different from those found in other localities in the United States or from those measured about five years ago in Arizona. No definite associations between pesticide levels and causes of death were evident. Fair intertissue correlations could be shown between certain tissue lipid concentrations of DDT and DDE, but analogous correlations in the case of dieldrin were usually weaker. There is reason to believe that the distribution of dieldrin to nonlipid tissue components exceeds that of DDT and DDE.     

Eradication of Tuberculosis in Children

Human tracheobronchial clearance was studied with a test aerosol of monodisperse particles (approximately 7μ) of fluorinated ethylene propylene (Teflon 120) tagged with radioactive fluorine (¹⁸F), a positron emitter with a half-life of 110 minutes. Eight subjects were exposed twice to the test aerosol. The clearance differed appreciably between the individuals but the two determinations in the same individual are highly similar. The test aerosol employed should be suitable for intraindividual studies of tracheobronchial clearance in man and consequently of value for investigating the acute effect of different substances on tracheobronchial clearance.     

Does the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt cause growth of the contralateral pulmonary artery?

BACKGROUND: Although some pediatric cardiology departments have a policy of adopting primary correction of tetralogy of Fallot in all symptomatic infants, we and others still palliate neonates and infants. Effective palliation should ameliorate symptoms and allow growth of the pulmonary arteries. Although studies on the growth of the ipsilateral and contralateral pulmonary arteries after a classic Blalock-Taussig shunt have been reported, pulmonary artery growth after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt has not been studied as thoroughly. Therefore, we examined whether there is equal growth of the contralateral pulmonary artery after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 140 patients with symptomatic tetralogy of Fallot who had a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt between October 1985 and October 1995. The median age at the time of the Blalock-Taussig shunt was 1.6 months. All patients had corrective procedures at a median age of 1.7 years. Cineangiography was done before the corrective procedure. From the angiograms the diameter of the right and left pulmonary arteries before their first lobar branches and the diameter of the descending thoracic aorta at the level of the diaphragm were measured. For each patient the ratios of right pulmonary artery to descending thoracic aorta and left pulmonary artery to descending thoracic aorta were determined and compared using Student's t test. RESULTS: Of the 140 patients, 114 had a left-sided Blalock-Taussig shunt, 20 had a right-sided shunt, and 6 patients had bilateral shunts. The mean right pulmonary artery to descending thoracic aorta ratio was 1.10 and the mean left pulmonary artery to descending thoracic aorta ratio was 0.98. This difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: We showed equal growth of the right and left pulmonary arteries with no distortion after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. If palliation is considered, the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt remains our choice.     

Control of the renal artery and vein with the nonabsorbable polymer ligating clip in hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy

BACKGROUND: The large and variable size of the renal vein has prompted most surgeons to select linear stapling devices to secure the vein during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Although effective, these stapling devices have a potential for misfire. Use of the nonabsorbable polymer ligating (NPL) clip during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy provides increased graft vessel length compared with the stapling device, and the NPL clip has a locking mechanism which may increase security compared with standard titanium clips. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the NPL clip for control of the renal artery and vein during hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALDN). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 50 consecutive HALDN patients was conducted where two parallel NPL clips were used to control both the renal artery and vein. Information collected included demographic data, operative and postoperative data, and complications. RESULTS: Mean donor age was 33.4 years and body mass index was 25.8 kg/m2. Mean operative time was 266.0 min, mean hospital stay was 3.2 days, and mean warm ischemia time was 123.3 seconds. There were no transfusions, open conversions, or complications related to use of the NPL clip. A US 16,300 dollars disposable cost savings was seen during this 1-year period alone. CONCLUSIONS: The NPL clip was 100% safe and effective in controlling the renal artery and vein during HALDN, allowed for additional vessel length, and resulted in a disposable cost savings of US 362 dollars per patient.