Use of pluronic micelles to overcome multidrug-resistance

Pluronic P-85 (poly(55)(oxypropylene)dipoly(s)(oxyethylene)) was used to form daunorubicin containing micelles. This new carrier was tested in vitro on sensitive and resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. Drug incorporation was measured by cytofluorometry and the cytotoxicity was measured by the tetrazolium formazan XTT assay. ID50 of 0.16 and 25 mu g/ml were obtained for conjugated and free daunorubicin respectively. The results obtained suggest that this approach may be used in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent to overcome multidrug resistance.     

Genetic analysis of three patients with an 18p- syndrome and dystonia

Some patients with an 18p- syndrome show dystonia, and a focal dystonia gene has been mapped to chromosome 18p. The authors evaluated the extent of the deletion in three patients with an 18p- syndrome and dystonia using 14 DNA markers on 18p. A common deleted area, covering the DYT7 locus, places the putative dystonia gene between the telomere of 18p and D18S1104 (49.6 cM). Dystonia in these patients may be caused by haploinsufficiency of the DYT7 gene, a new dystonia gene on 18p, or may result from developmental brain anomalies.     

Recent advances in our understanding of the use of theophylline in the treatment of asthma

The use of theophylline for the treatment of asthma for 45 of the past 50 years has been for its ability to dilate bronchi. The problem has been that at the most effective bronchodilating dose, toxicity was too close for comfort. In the past 5 years, there has been resurgence in theophylline use at lower doses because of some well-documented anti-inflammatory and steroid sparing effects.     

Appendicitis: Higher risk in Mexican Americans?

Objectives. Mexican Americans (MAs), compared to white non‐Hispanics (WNHs), have higher rates of biliary disease, noninsulin dependent diabetes, and endstage renal disease but lower rates of lung cancer, hip fractures, and mortality from coronary heart disease. Relatively little research has been done to identify other ethnic differences in disease incidence. We used surgical procedure rates to confirm known ethnic differences and to explore our clinical suspicion that MAs have higher rates of appendectomy than WNHs.

Methods. We used a registry of surgical procedures at two teaching hospitals in South Texas to calculate proportional operation ratios (PORs) for MAs versus WNHs. These two hospitals are the primary source of acute hospital care for the indigent in the area. The POR is arithmetically identical to proportional incidence and mortality ratios.

Results. MAs underwent appendectomy proportionally more often than WNHs at both hospitals (POR = 1.41 and 1.75, p < 0.0001). Other significant PORs were consistent with known ethnic disease differences in biliary tract operations, vascular access for chronic hemodialysis, lung cancer, and coronary artery bypass.

Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that MAs may undergo appendectomy more often than WNHs and so may be at higher risk of appendicitis.     

Antitumor effects of GBS toxin: a polysaccharide exotoxin from group Bβ-hemolytic streptococcus

A group B streptococcus (GBS) isolated from human neonates diagnosed with sepsis and respiratory distress (early-onset disease) produces a polysaccharide exotoxin (GBS toxin) that, when infused in sheep, causes lung pathophysiology similar to that seen in humans. Histological studies have demonstrated that GBS toxin induces a strong inflammatory response in the lung, with pulmonary sequestration of granulocytes and extensive capillary endothelial damage. The susceptibility of humans to GBS toxin is age-dependent and limited to about 4 days after birth. It is rarely evident thereafter. This suggests that the binding of GBS toxin to the target endothelium occurs via specific components in the developing lung endothelial cells of the newborn that are later lost. We report here that GBS toxin can also bind to developing endothelium associated with neoplasia and induce an inflammatory response. GBS toxin was shown by immunohistochemistry to bind to capillary endothelium of human large-cell carcinomas. In nude mice bearing human tumor xenografts, intravenously administered GBS toxin caused tumor necrosis and hemorrhagic lesions, and substantially inhibited the rate of growth of the tumors. In BALB/c mice bearing Madison lung tumors, GBS toxin induced an inflammatory response resulting in marked changes in tumor morphology, including vasodilation, endothelial and tumor cell necrosis, invasion of lymphocytes and macrophages, and capillary thrombosis. In these tumor models, no evidence of toxicity to the vasculature of other tissues was observed. The reported pathophysiology of GBS in human neonates, the lack of disease in non-neonates colonized with GBS, and these results suggest that GBS toxin may have potential as a well tolerated agent in cancer therapy of some human tumors.Abbreviations GBS group BStreptococcus - PBS phosphate-buffered saline This work was supported in part by a grant from the March of Dimes Foundation     

茯苓萜类的高效液相色谱指纹图谱研究

目的 建立茯苓三萜化合物的指纹图谱。方法 反相高效液相色谱法。结果 道地药材茯苓及不同地区收集的市场商品具有相当稳定的、相似程度很高的指纹图谱。结论 可利用液相色谱的特征峰控制茯苓及其制剂的质量。     

99mTcN(NOEt)2与99mTc-MIBI在肿瘤模型显像中的对比研究

目的　探讨99mTc 氮 二 (N 乙基 N 乙氧基二硫代氨基甲酸盐 ) [99mTcN (NOEt) 2 ]应用于肿瘤诊断的可能性并与99mTc 甲氧基异丁基异腈(99mTc MIBI)肿瘤模型显像进行比较。方法　制备99mTcN (NOEt) 2 ,用上行薄层色谱法测定放化纯。各取 4只移植性艾氏腹水癌小鼠分别尾静脉注射99mTc MIBI或99mTcN(NOEt) 2 ,30min、2h、4h后进行全身后位静态显像。利用感兴趣区技术 ,分别计算不同时相肿瘤与头部 (T/H)、胸部 (T/C)、及健侧肢体对称部位 (T/L)的放射性比值。 4h后处死99mTcN (NOEt) 2 显像组小鼠 4只 ,取血并剥离脏器组织及肿瘤组织 ,称重 ,测量放射性计数 ,计算肿瘤与各脏器放射性比值。结果　99mTcN (NOEt) 2 室温下 4h保持稳定。99mTcN (NOEt) 2 选择性地有效的聚集于肿瘤组织。除腹部外其它组织靶 /非靶比值较高 ,注射2h后T/L比值达最高 ,为 4.87。99mTcN (NOEt) 2 显像组与99mTc MIBI显像组比较T/L比值差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。体外测量肿瘤与血、肌肉、肺等脏器的单位重量放射性比值较高 ,与肝、小肠等腹部脏器的单位重量放射性比值较低。结论　在移植性艾氏腹水癌小鼠模型中99mTcN (NOEt) 2 从血液中清除很快 ,肿瘤摄取率高 ,有一定的滞留量 ,靶与非靶比值高 ,图像质量明显优于99mTc MIBI肿瘤     

Examples of Clinical Application of Multiple Needling in Neijing in Treating Bi Syndrome

Ling Shu (< 灵枢 >) said, "The essentials of acupuncture lie in the needling techniques."Twenty-six needling techniques recorded in it, such as the "Nine Needling Techniques", "Five Needling Techniques" and "Twelve Needling Techniques",were cried up by the acupuncture doctors in the past dynasties. The authors applied the relevant needling techniques to treat Bi syndrome in clinic and the quite good effects were got.