Phase II trial of 10 deaza-aminopterin in patients with bladder cancer

Summary Deaza-aminopterin is a folate analog which is transported more rapidly than methotrexate into cells and appears to be more active than methotrexate against human and animal tumor in vitro. Fifteen patients with advanced urothelial tract cancer were given deaza-aminopterin 30–37.5 mg/m² IV QW. In responding patients drug was given QOW after 4–6 consecutive doses. Doses were escalated or de-escalated by 7.5 mg/m² depending on toxicity. Twelve patients had received prior chemotherapy which included methotrexate in nine. Three patients achieved a partial remission lasting 1, 3, and 3 months respectively: all responders had previously failed methotrexate after an initial response to a methotrexate containing regimen. None of the six patients who were methotrexate naive responded to deaza-aminopterin; 3 subsequently received methotrexate without response. Mild mucositis was universal and in 5 was severe. Six patients had an increase in liver transaminases probably secondary to anti-folate hepatotoxicity. Other toxicities included diarrhea, nausea, skin rash and fever. Further studies are needed to define the precise efficacy of deaza-aminopterin in patients with urothelial tract cancers.     

大学生心理素质与思想品德发展的关系

研究大学生心理素质与思想品德发展的关系，目的在于分析、发现个体在接受教育过程中的心理运动规律，从而提高思想教育的实效性。本文从马克思主义认识论和实践论的观点出发，依据教育心理学的原理，探讨了心理健康教育与思想品德教育的内在联系和相互作用，提出良好的心理素质是大学生思想品德发展的基础的观点。认为品德的形成与人的心理活动息息相关，个体如果没有良好的品德，将影响其心理素质的完善；同样，没有健全的心理素质，思想品德也不能得到很好的发展。只有思想品德教育与心理健康教育协调发展，共同作用，才能收到良好的教育效果。     

Hernia through the foramen of Winslow: a complication of cholecystectomy. A case report

In 151 years since first described, there have been 112 reported cases of hernia through the foramen of Winslow (HFW). All thus far have described HFW as a primary entity. The case reported appears to be unique with HFW as a surgical complication. HFW is the least common of internal hernias. The primary symptom is pain referred from the herniated organ and the hepatoduodenal ligament. An interesting sign is that the patient is found curled up or stooped over for pain relief. Anatomic factors implicated in HFW are an enlarged epiploic foramen, a floppy cecum and ascending colon, or abnormal length of small bowel mesentery. Tension on these structures causes pain with the torso extended. Distention of bowel in the lesser sac mimics gastric obstruction. Organs herniated are: small bowel (63%); cecum, ascending colon, and terminal ileum (30%); and transverse colon (7%). Of 25 cases reported since 1966, cecal herniation comprised two-thirds. The diagnosis may be made radiologically and the treatment is surgical. The case and a review of the literature are presented with attention to the anatomy. Also provided are the signs and symptoms of this interesting and perplexing diagnosis.     

Direct observation in vitro of how neuroblasts migrate: medulla and cochleovestibular ganglion of the chick embryo

The hypothesis that neuroblasts migrate in the nervous system by a locomotory process was tested experimentally. An in vitro preparation permitted direct observation of postmitotic cells migrating from the rhombic lip of the medulla and the anlage of the cochleovestibular ganglion. Cell locomotion was not seen. Instead migration was produced by elongation of a leading process, followed by translocation of the nucleus (perikaryal translocation). On the basis of comparisons with previous observations in situ, we propose that this represents a common mode of migration in the developing nervous system. Cell clusters were explanted from the rhombic lip at the developmental stage when they migrate from the ventricular zone to the acoustico-vestibular anlage in the medulla. Cells from the cochleovestibular ganglion were explanted after migration from the otocyst, but before ganglionic differentiation. Each neuroblast's migration route was formed by an elongating leading process ending in a growth cone. The growth cone attached to other cells and processes or ended freely on an acellular substrate. Nonneuronal cells usually migrated as has been described for fibroblasts, yet with some of the features of perikaryal translocation, but some nonneuronal precursor cells may migrate the way neuroblasts do. Neuroblasts did not migrate preferentially on the processes of nonneuronal cells, although the reverse could be observed. In fact a variety of interactions between migratory cells, neuronal and nonneuronal, were observed. The advantage of the experimental system described here is that one can observe cells migrating spontaneously at the times in development when they normally do so, while preserving the cellular populations present in situ.     

Children's categorisation of play and learning based on social context

While much time has been spent deliberating about the definition of play, little emphasis has been placed on what children themselves perceive as play. The aim of the present study was to examine social context as a cue for children's perceptions of play and learning. Ninety-two children aged between four and six years (mean four years nine months) participated in the study and completed the Activity Apperception Story Procedure. Children were asked to sort photographic stimuli into those they believed depicted play/not play and learning/not learning. Each of the stimuli were identified by independent raters as containing one of the following social cues; teacher absence (solitary activity, parallel activity or cooperative activity) or teacher presence (teacher involved activity or teacher directed activity). Findings revealed that children associated teacher absence with play. More specifically, children made links between play and the presence of peers (parallel and cooperative activity). Findings are discussed in relation to play in the early years curriculum, differences in children's early educational experiences and the importance of understanding children's perceptions of play.     

T-2 toxin induces apoptosis, and selenium partly blocks, T-2 toxin induced apoptosis in chondrocytes through modulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.

T-2 toxin is one of the mycotoxins, a group of type A trichothecenes produced by several fungal genera including Fusarium species. In the present study, we have investigated the apoptotic effects of T-2 toxin on chondrocytes and the relationship between T-2 toxin induced chondrocyte apoptosis and its influence on Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression. We have also examined the inhibitory effects of selenium on chondrocyte apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin. We have combined morphological and biological techniques to establish the relevance of apoptosis in human chondrocyte death induced by T-2 toxin. Treatment with T-2 toxin caused accelerated apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner. The apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin involved an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Bcl-2 mRNA expression remained unchanged in chondrocyte apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin treatment, while Bax mRNA expression increased following treatment with T-2 toxin. Selenium could partly block the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by T-2 toxin through decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, apoptosis of chondrocytes can be induced by T-2 toxin (1-20ng/mL) via the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio may play a critical role in governing the susceptibility to apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin in human chondrocytes.