Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against GRIM-19, a novel IFN-beta and retinoic acid-activated regulator of cell death.

A combination of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and all-trans retinoic acid (IFN/RA) induces tumor cell apoptosis via some unknown mechanisms. Apoptosis is a gene-directed process that limits the proliferation of undesired cells. Several genes are required to regulate cell death in the higher-order animals. Earlier, we employed a gene expression knockout technique to isolate cell death-related genes. A novel gene, the gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 (GRIM-19), was found to be essential for tumor cell death induced by IFN/RA. Here, we describe the development and characterization of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against GRIM-19. GRIM-19 is present in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Its expression is induced by the IFN/RA combination. We also show that GRIM-19 inhibits the cell-transforming property of viral oncogenic protein viral IFN regulatory factor-1 (vIRF-1) via a physical interaction. mAbs developed in this study should be useful for studying the other physiologic roles of GRIM-19 and serve as a potent tool for studying tumor responses to IFN/RA therapy.     

French trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology theoretical training and practice of vaginal breech delivery: a national survey

OBJECTIVE: To survey French trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and evaluate their theoretical training and practice of vaginal breech delivery (VBD). STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a national survey between January and April 2004 among the 817 French trainees undergoing a 5-year training program in obstetrics and gynaecology. Trainees in years 1-3 were considered as juniors, and those in years 4 and 5 as seniors. Respondents were invited to specify whether they had received theoretical teaching in the management of VBD, and to indicate the number of VBDs they had performed during their training. RESULTS: The questionnaire was returned by 156 (19%) trainees and of these 140 questionnaires were suitable for analysis. Overall, 35% of the respondents had never been taught the management of a VBD. Among the senior trainees, 33% had performed less than four VBDs, and 23% had not received any teaching on how to manage a VBD. CONCLUSION: The level of theoretical training and practice in the management of VBD seems to have diminished and does not bring the French trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology to the required standard of competence.     

Characterization of vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from coastal seawater in peninsular Malaysia

Twenty-one Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates representing 21 samples of coastal seawater from three beaches in peninsular Malaysia were found to be sensitive to streptomycin, norfloxacin and chloramphenicol. Resistance was observed to penicillin (100%), ampicillin (95.2%), carbenicilin (95.2%), erythromycin (95.2%), bacitracin (71.4%), cephalothin (28.6%), moxalactam (28.6%), kanamycin (19.1%), tetracycline (14.3%), nalidixic acid (9.5%) and gentamicin (9.5%). Plasmids of 2.6 to 35.8 mDa were detected among plasmid-containing isolates. All isolates carried the Vp-toxR gene specific to V. parahaemolyticus and were negative for the tdh gene, but only one isolate was positive for the trh gene. DNA fingerprinting of the isolates using ERIC-PCR and PFGE showed that the isolates belong to two major clonal groups, with several isolates from different locations in the same group, indicating the presence of similar strains in the different locations.     

A study of ocular infections amongst primary school children in Delhi

The present study of ocular infections was conducted amongst primary school children residing in an urban slum and rural area of Delhi. A total of four schools were selected, two from urban slum in Central Delhi Rouse Avenue and two from a peripheral village on the outskirts of Delhi. All the children studying in the above mentioned schools and residing in the same area were covered. All the study subjects were interviewed, clinically examined and given a proforma to be filled by their parents. Of the total 775 subjects only 91 (11.74%) had ocular infections. Conjunctivitis was the most prevalent infection followed by trachoma, stye, blepharitis and chalazion. The type and prevalence of infection was similar, in both sexes and both areas, rural and urban. There was a significant rising trend of ocular infection with increase in age. A significant association was found between ocular infections and religion but the association with per capita income was not significant.     

New insight in physiopathology of preeclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation: role of inflammation

Inflammatory response is a major component in physiopathology of preeclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation. Endothelium is a main connection between placental ischemia and clinical manifestations during vascular pregnancy complications. In this review recent findings concerning inflammatory response and its links with endothelium are reported. Studies concerning isolated intra-uterine growth retardation confirm the hypothesis of a similar pathophysiology with an activation confined to utero-placental bed or at a lower level. Current information on oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, and apoptosis in vascular pregnancy complications are available in this review. These concepts offer innovative possibilities of treatment.     

Fetal bladder rupture due to anteriorurethral valves

A rupture of the fetal bladder that resulted in urinary ascites has rarely been reported in published studies. We present the first case of a spontaneous rupture of the fetal bladder, due to an anterior urethral valve, in which the diagnosis was suspected prenatally by means of Doppler ultrasonography and was confirmed postnatally.     

The water-soluble and protein-bound metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene formed by rat liver

An optimal incubation system to study benzo(a)pyrene metabolism to its polar derivatives is described. The system using the 20,000g supernatant enzymes of rat liver converts up to 80 per cent of micromolar concentrations of [¹⁴C]benzo(a)pyrene to water-soluble products of which about 10 per cent become covalently bound to protein, are trichloroacetic acid-precipitable, not extractable into organic solvents and are stable to polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic and gel filtration separation techniques.Four (I–IV) discrete[¹⁴C]benzo(a)pyrene-protein complexes have been purified by ion exchange Sephadex gel filtration from post-incubation cytosols. Protein I has the highest binding specificity, a molecular weight estimated at 44,500, migrates as a dimer in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel, and has glutathione S-transferase activity. This binding protein is believed to be at least similar to, if not identical with, ligandin. Proteins II–IV are also active as glutathione S-transferases. This enzymic function of the binding proteins is markedly reduced by the covalent attachment of the metabolised benzo(a)pyrene, so that the de-activating conjugation with GSH of reactive metabolites is inhibited. The carcinogen, under these conditions hampers its own detoxification reaction.Certain metabolic inhibitors reduce specific binding of the carcinogen to protein I and enhance the binding to the other proteins. The less specific binding to proteins II–IV may be important to the carcinogenic process.     

Vaginal birth following two previous cesarean sections

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the management of vaginal delivery among women with two previous cesarean sections. The maternal and fetal morbidities of this attitude were studied. SETTING: University hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective study made over 6 years, from January 1st 1990 to December 31st 1995. PATIENTS: Among 180 patients with two uterine scars, 96 patients with cephalic presentation and normal pelvic dimensions were allowed trial of labor. RESULTS: The rate of vaginal birth following trial of labor was 65.6%. Three patients had an uterine scar dehiscence; among them, one hysterectomy was performed for haemorrhage with uterine atony. Neonatal issue was always favorable. Twenty-two newborns had superior birthweights compared to those born from the preceding cesarean section. CONCLUSION: Trial of labor following two previous cesarean sections is acceptable in the majority of cases. It leads to a high vaginal delivery rate and low maternal and fetal morbidity.