Percutaneous transrenal balloon dilatation of the ureter

Six strictures of the ureter were dilated with balloon angioplasty catheters. Two obstructed ureterovesical junctions in transplant patients were successfully treated. One obstructed ureteropelvic junction in a transplant kidney with a redundant ureter failed to respond. One of 2 uretero-ileostomy junction strictures was successfully treated, though one mid-ureteral stricture remained unchanged. Multiple dilatations were necessary in several patients. No significant complications were noted. Pre- and post-dilatation assessment of obstruction using the Whitaker test was helpful in transplant patients.     

联苯双酯制剂的物理分散状态及体外释放度

用X-射线衍射法,考察不同载体制备的固体分散体系中联笨双酯的物理分散状态,聚乙二醇6000(PEG 6000)固体分散系为有限互溶固体溶液,聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)共沉淀物为无定形粉末,脲共熔物为简单低共熔混合物,热分析研究亦证实PEG 6000固体分散物较其相应比例的物理混合物及片剂有更高的分散度。比较两种联苯双酯片剂与滴丸的体外释放度,两种片剂的释放度参数td值分别为37和178min,滴丸未包衣者为11min,包衣者为26.in。由此可知物理分散状态是影响释放速度的主要因素。     

Review of the psychometric properties of the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale: Australian longitudinal study

The current paper presents the findings from the reliability and validity testing of an 18-item Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale derived from the 28-item Insulin Management Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale. Testing in the Australian context occurred at three points over 9 months. Diabetes self-efficacy is defined as the individual's judgement of confidence to carry out tasks specific to diabetes management. Data were obtained from an Australian metropolitan sample of adult, English speaking men and women with diabetes (N = 226). Participants were insulin-using and non-insulin-using. Factor analysis indicated five subscales. The data support the construct validity and reliability of the 18-item scale in terms of stability, internal consistency and item-total correlation matrices. This study provides consistent evidence that the Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale is a valid and reliable measure over time when the individual's efficacy beliefs are changing. Hence this instrument should be a useful outcome measure for educational diabetes related interventions.     

Preparative-scale purification and characterization of MHC class II monomers.

The MHC class II molecule is a heterodimeric glycoprotein consisting of one alpha and one beta polypeptide chain of almost identical molecular size. Recently it has been shown by others, and confirmed in our laboratory, that isolated monomers of murine MHC II molecules are capable of binding antigenic peptides like the alpha/beta intact heterodimer. In addition, preliminary results from our laboratory indicate that isolated single chain-peptide complexes of murine MHC class II molecules are capable of stimulating cloned T cells in an antigen specific manner. These results prompted us to isolate relatively large quantities of individual alpha and beta subunits of MHC II molecules for further in vitro and in vivo studies. Isolation of alpha and beta monomers proved to be difficult using conventional chromatographic methods. In this report we describe micro-preparative and preparative continuous flow electrophoresis methods by which milligram quantities of MHC II subunits can be purified. An optimal condition for the dissociation of heterodimeric MHC II into alpha and beta monomers was identified, and separation of human HLA DR2 and murine IAs monomers was accomplished. Both methods offer the resolving power of gel electrophoresis with the convenience of continuous sample elution. Purified MHC II subunits obtained by these methods were tested for their ability to bind antigenic peptides. Results presented in this study indicate that monomeric subunits of both human HLA-DR2 and murine IAs are equally active in specific binding of antigenic peptides like the native heterodimer.     

Busulfan/etoposide--initial experience with a new preparatory regimen for autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia

Current intensive chemotherapy for acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) results in a complete remission in the majority of patients. Unfortunately, the duration of remission is short and most of the patients will experience a relapse of their underlying disease. Autologous bone marrow (BM) transplantation is being explored as a treatment modality designed to improve relapse-free survival. We have conducted a phase II trial exploring the combination of busulfan (16 mg/kg) and etoposide (60 mg/kg) in an attempt to improve antitumor efficacy using this novel preparative regimen. To date, 50 patients (48 with ANLL and 2 patients with biphenotypic acute leukemia) have been treated. The first 20 patients received unmanipulated BM; 28 patients subsequently received 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) (60 micrograms/mL)-purged bone marrow, and 2 patients with biphenotypic acute leukemia received both 4-HC (60 micrograms/mL) and etoposide (5 micrograms/mL)-purged BM. Thirty-four patients were in first complete remission (CR1), 12 patients in second complete remission (CR2), and 4 patients in relapse. The median time from first complete remission to BM harvest was 3 months (range, 0.8 to 4) compared with median time of 2 months (range, 1.5 to 5.0) for patients in second complete remission. The median time from harvest to transplant was 1 month for both groups (range, 0.4 to 36). A median of 0.7 x 10(8) (range, 0.2 to 1.4) mononuclear cells were infused. Patients achieved an absolute neutrophil count of > or = 500/microL at a median of 26 days (range, 13 to 96), an untransfused platelet count > or = 20,000/microL at a median of 56 days (range, 15 to 278) and a sustained hematocrit > or = 30% at a median of 50 days (range, 19 to 116). Twenty-six patients are alive and in continued CR. Follow-up of the surviving patients ranged from 6 months to 66 months with a median follow-up of 31 months. Patients receiving purged BM have an actuarial disease-free survival of 57% with a relapse rate of 28% compared with patients receiving unpurged BM whose actuarial disease-free survival is 32% with a relapse rate of 62% (P = .06 for relapse rate). The most significant extramedullary toxicities for this regimen are hepatic and cutaneous (including mucositis). The BU/VP-16 regimen is associated with a significant proportion of patients surviving disease free, especially in the group receiving purged BM. Whether this regimen offers a substantial improvement in disease-free survival over currently used regimens will require a prospective randomized study.