Effects of Cr(VI) on the expression of the oxidative stress genes in human lung cells

Intracellular metabolism of chromium(VI) [Cr(VI)] may lead to oxidative stress and this may account for the ability of Cr(VI) to act as a complete carcinogen. Therefore, we examined the effects of Cr(VI) treatment on the expression of oxidative stress genes in normal human lung LL 24 cells and human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. RT-PCR and northern blot analyses were used to determine the steady-state mRNA levels of catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, Cu/Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutases, glutathione peroxidase, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, heme oxygenase and interleukin 8 in control cells and cells treated with 5-200 microM of Cr(VI). We found that only expression of the heme oxygenase gene is strongly elevated under the treatment with Cr(VI), and only in normal human lung LL 24 cells. Our data showed that even in the absence of Cr(VI) treatment, the level of heme oxygenase gene expression is much higher in A549 cells than in LL 24 cells. As glutathione is believed to play a protective role in cells against different forms of oxidative stress, we studied the correlation between intracellular glutathione levels and the inducibility of the heme oxygenase gene after treatment of cells with Cr(VI). Our results demonstrate that glutathione levels are increased by 35 % of control values in LL 24 cells treated with Cr(VI). The data obtained indicate that heme oxygenase, known to be a stress- inducible gene, may be involved in cellular pathways critical to the carcinogenic activity of Cr(VI) in normal human lung cells. Intracellular glutathione levels and reactive oxygen species do not appear to be primarily responsible for the stress response, induced by Cr(VI) in the studied human cells.      

Clinical outcomes of patients requiring ventilatory support in Brazilian intensive care units: a multicenter,prospective, cohort study

Introduction

Contemporary information on mechanical ventilation (MV) use in emerging countries is limited. Moreover, most epidemiological studies on ventilatory support were carried out before significant developments, such as lung protective ventilation or broader application of non-invasive ventilation (NIV). We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for hospital mortality and failure of NIV in patients requiring ventilatory support in Brazilian intensive care units (ICU).

Methods

In a multicenter, prospective, cohort study, a total of 773 adult patients admitted to 45 ICUs over a two-month period requiring invasive ventilation or NIV for more than 24 hours were evaluated. Causes of ventilatory support, prior chronic health status and physiological data were assessed. Multivariate analysis was used to identifiy variables associated with hospital mortality and NIV failure.

Results

Invasive MV and NIV were used as initial ventilatory support in 622 (80%) and 151 (20%) patients. Failure with subsequent intubation occurred in 54% of NIV patients. The main reasons for ventilatory support were pneumonia (27%), neurologic disorders (19%) and non-pulmonary sepsis (12%). ICU and hospital mortality rates were 34% and 42%. Using the Berlin definition, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was diagnosed in 31% of the patients with a hospital mortality of 52%. In the multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 1.03), comorbidities (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.28 to 3.17), associated organ failures (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.20), moderate (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.35) to severe ARDS (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.01 to 4.41), cumulative fluid balance over the first 72 h of ICU (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.39 to 4.28), higher lactate (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.50), invasive MV (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.32 to 5.39) and NIV failure (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.74 to 8.99) were independently associated with hospital mortality. The predictors of NIV failure were the severity of associated organ dysfunctions (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.34), ARDS (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.10 to 4.82) and positive fluid balance (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.02 to 4.30).

Conclusions

Current mortality of ventilated patients in Brazil is elevated. Implementation of judicious fluid therapy and a watchful use and monitoring of NIV patients are potential targets to improve outcomes in this setting.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01268410","term_id":"NCT01268410"}}NCT01268410.     

Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of MN blood group-specific sequences in the human genome

The MN blood group antigens have traditionally been detected by serotyping; however, development of a DNA-based method offers flexibility in the determination of this highly polymorphic system. Genotyping the MN blood group antigens was performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the specific alleles (PASA) in the human genome. In separate paired reactions, M or N allele-specific oligonucleotide primers were amplified with a common distal primer. Only in the presence of the homologous template was a 781-base pair polymerase chain reaction amplification product visible after agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. This method of genotyping could be performed using either 1 microgram of extracted DNA or 0.5 microL of whole blood, and the results showed 100-percent correlation with those obtained by serotyping. PASA-based genotyping of MN blood group antigens, which requires a small amount of starting material, has application in linkage and population studies and in forensic medicine.     

Psychosocial effects of unrelated bone marrow donation: experiences of the National Marrow Donor Program

In this study, we investigated the psychosocial effects of unrelated marrow donation. Survey questionnaires were administered pre-donation, shortly post-donation, and 1 year post-donation to all donors through the National Marrow Donor Program over a 3-year period. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were then performed. Donors were generally quite positive about the donation 1 year post-donation: 87% felt it was "very worthwhile" and 91% would be willing to donate again in the future. Marrow donors were more likely than kidney donors to feel better about themselves as a result of the donation (P < .001). Donors with longer collection times, in general, had less positive psychosocial outcomes from the donation. Donors who experienced lower back pain or difficulty walking as a result of the donation were more likely to experience the donation as more stressful and painful than expected, but no more likely to experience it as less positive emotionally than donors who did not experience these side effects.     

Received 14 May 1973; Relationship between Killer and Rosette-Forming Cells Reactive to H-2 478

Optimum conditions were selected for testing of direct and indirect H-2 reactive rosette-forming cells (RFC) with the use of sheep or mouse erythrocytes coated with soluble H-2 antigens. Rosette formation with mouse erythrocytes is shown to be an immunologically specific reaction and to be inhibited by the pretreatment of cells with the corresponding soluble H-2 antigen preparation. Rate of killer cell and RFC formation is different after primary and secondary immunization with an allogeneic tumor, Unlike killer cells. RFCs are inactivated without complement by rabbit antibodies against mouse γ-globulin (MGG). In contrast to killer cells, which are eliminated in the presence of complement by anti-θ antibodies but not by anti-plasma cell antigen (PC.1) and anti-MGG antibodies, direct RFCs are not inactivated by anti-θ but are eliminated partiallv by anti-MGG and anti-PC₁. The RFCs are shown to be concentrated in the low-density fractions of the discontinuous bovine serum albumin gradient, whereas cytotoxic lymphocytes are distributed less closely, being concentrated in the intermediate fraction, which does not differ morphologically from the initial cell suspension. Killer and rosette-forming cells reactive to the same H-2 antigens appear to be two non-overlapping populations of T and B cells, respectively, and no T-B cooperation is required for destruction of target cells.     

Comparative anatomy and histology of the radial artery and the internal thoracic artery

Summary Anatomical characteristics of the radial a. were compared to those of the internal thoracic a., considered as a gold standard in coronary surgery. The length, the diameter, the collateral distribution and the wall thickness of these two arteries were studied comparatively. In addition, a comparative histological analysis was carried out. Anatomical and histological characteristics of these two arteries have important implications for coronary artery bypass.

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Anatomie et histologie comparative de l'artère radiale et de l'artère thoracique interneIntérêt pour les pontages coronaires

Résumé Les caractéristiques anatomiques de l'a. radiale ont été comparées à celles de l'a. thoracique interne, cette dernière étant considérée comme le greffon de référence en chirurgie coronaire. La longueur, le diamètre, les branches collatérales et l'épaisseur pariétale de ces deux artères ont été étudiées. Une analyse histologique comparative a également été effectuée. Les caractéristiques anatomiques et histologiques de ces deux artères ont d'importantes implications pour la chirurgie de pontage coronaire.