Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) E7 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II expression in human keratinocytes in culture

Archives of Virology - The low expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens on human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cervical carcinoma cells may be responsible for an...     

Quantitative liver function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low-dose methotrexate: a longitudinal study

The objectives were to determine quantitative liver function prospectively in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX), to search for risk factors for a loss of quantitative liver function and to assess the relationship between quantitative liver function and histological staging. A total of 117 patients with RA (ACR criteria, 85 women, mean age 59 yr) had measurements of galactose elimination capacity (GEC), aminopyrine breath test (ABT) and liver enzymes [aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), 7-glutamyl transferase (GGT), bile acids, bilirubin, albumin] before treatment with weekly i.m. MTX injections and every year thereafter. In 16 patients, liver biopsies were performed. Before the introduction of MTX, mean GEC was 6.6 mg/min/kg [5th to 95th percentile (5-95 PC) 5.1- 8.5; reference range 6.0-9.1] and mean ABT was 0.80% kg/mmol (5-95 PC 0.42-1.30: reference range 0.6-1.0). During treatment with MTX [mean weekly dose 11.8 mg (5-95 PC 5.4-20.2), mean observation period 3.8 yr (5-95 PC 0.4-6.9)], significant declines of GEC (-0.12 mg/min/kg per year. t = 3.30, P < 0.002) and ABT (-0.06% kg/mmol per year, t = 4.81, P < 0.001) were observed. Negative correlations were found between the annual change in GEC and GEC at baseline (Rs = -0.40, P < 0.0001), and the annual change in ABT and ABT at baseline (Rs = -0.43, P < 0.0001). No correlations were found between the annual change in GEC or ABT and weekly MTX dose, age or percentage of increased liver enzymes, and no effect of a history of alcohol consumption > 30 g/week became evident. Two patients with Roenigk grade III had impaired quantitative liver function, while 14 patients with Roenigk grades I and II exhibited a high variability of GEC and ABT from normal to abnormal values. The continuous declines in GEC and ABT observed deserve attention in patients with prolonged treatment. Patients with a low GEC or ABT at baseline seem not to be at increased risk for a further loss of quantitative liver function. An impaired GEC or ABT does not necessarily concur with hepatic fibrosis on histological examination.      

A randomized clinical trial of home nursing care for lung cancer patients

A randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess the effects of home nursing care for patients with progressive lung cancer. One hundred sixty-six patients were assigned to either an oncology home care group (OHC) that received care from oncology home care nurses, a standard home care group (SHC) that received care from regular home care nurses, or an office care group (OC) that received whatever care they needed except for home care. Patients were entered into the study 2 months after diagnosis and followed for 6 months. Patients were interviewed at 6-week intervals across five occasions. At the end of the study, there were no differences in pain, mood disturbance, and concerns among the three groups. There were significant differences in symptom distress, enforced social dependency, and health perceptions. The two home nursing care groups had less distress and greater independence 6 weeks longer than the office care group. In addition, the two home nursing care groups steadily reported worse health perceptions over time. Thus, it was remarkable that the office care group, which indicated more symptom distress and social dependency with time, also indicated perceptions of improved health with time. These results suggest that home nursing care assists patients with forestalling distress from symptoms and maintaining their independence longer in comparison to no home nursing care. Home care may also include assisting patients in acknowledging the reality of their situation.     

Physical organization of the ilvEDAC genes of Escherichia coli strain K-12

We have determined the physical location of the ilvEDAC genes on the restriction cleavage map of the ilv region of Escherichia coli K-12 by two methods: (i) heteroduplex and endonuclease cleavage analysis of hybrid phages carrying genetically defined parts of the ilv cluster and (ii) complementation analysis and enzyme assays to determine ilv gene expression from hybrid plasmids containing DNA restriction fragments of the transducing phage lambdah80dilv. The ilvEDA and ilvC operons occupy 2.4 and 0.9 megadalton sequences of DNA, respectively, and are separated by a region of 0.6-0.75 megadalton. The ilvD region, specifying dihydroxy acid dehydrase, has a maximum coding capacity of about 55,000 daltons of polypeptide. Our results confirm that ilvC is transcribed clockwise on the E. coli K-12 map, in the same direction as ilaEDA. A secondary lambda attachment site within ilvC has been located on a small (0.45 megadalton) EcoRI fragment. Our results are compared to other physical studies of ilv DNA.     

三七中人参三醇甙对羊心浦氏纤维动作电位及延迟整流钾电流的影响

三七中人参三醇甙(PTS)2.5μg/ml及5.0μg/ml均能明显延长羊心浦氏纤维动作电位时程(APD)包括APD₃₀,APD₅₀,APD₉₀,对动作电位幅度(APA)无明显影响。双微电极法电压钳实验证明,PTS能明显抑制羊心浦氏纤维延迟整流钾电流(I_x)的峰值,且此种抑制作用呈时间及剂量依赖性。揭示PTS通过阻滞延迟整流钾通道而延长APD。