Oxidative stress stimulates α-tocopherol transfer protein in human trophoblast tumor cells BeWo

α-Tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) has been identified as the major intracellular transport protein for the antioxidant vitamin E (α-tocopherol). Expression of α-TTP on the reproductive system has been described both in mouse uterus and lately in the human placenta. The aim of this study was to clarify if placental expression of α-TTP can be modified by substances causing oxidative reactions. The human choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo was, therefore, treated with two known pro-oxidants. α-TTP expression was determined with immunocytochemistry and evaluated by applying a semiquantitative score. The presence of pro-oxidants in BeWo cells induced α-TTP expression. We thus hypothesize that stimulation of α-TTP expression by oxidative stress, as this was induced by pro-oxidants, could be part of an antioxidant process occurring in the placenta in the aim of enhancing the supply of α-tocopherol. This process could occur both in normal pregnancies, as well as in pregnancy disorders presented with intensified oxidative stress. In that view, this model is proposed for further oxidative stress studies on trophoblast and placenta, on the grounds of clarifying the role of α-tocopherol in pregnancy physiology and pathophysiology.     

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a booster dose of a novel combined Haemophilus influenzae type b-Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine given to toddlers of 13-14 months of age with antibody persistence up to 31 months of age

BACKGROUND: A combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Hib-MenC-TT) may be a convenient alternative to separate Hib and MenC conjugate vaccines. METHODS: Healthy infants randomized in a previous study for priming at 2, 4, and 6 months: Hib-MenC-TT primed group, 3 doses of Hib-MenC-TT + DTPa-HBV-IPV (N = 87); MenC-TT primed group, 2 doses of MenC-TT (NeisVac-C; Baxter Healthcare SA, Zuürich, Switzerland) + 3 doses of DTPa/Hib containing vaccines (N = 178); MenC-CRM primed group, 3 doses of MenC-CRM197(Meningitec; Wyeth Corporation Delaware, Madison, NJ) + DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib (N = 93). At 13-14 months of age, Hib-MenC-TT and MenC-TT primed groups received a Hib-MenC-TT booster dose and the MenC-CRM primed group a booster dose of DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib. Blood samples were taken before and at 1 and 18 months postbooster. RESULTS: Before the booster dose, persistence of anti-polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP) antibody concentration > or =0.15 microg/mL in the Hib-MenC-TT (96.4%) and MenC-TT (96.1%) primed groups and of MenC bactericidal titers > or =1:8 in the Hib-MenC-TT primed group (96.3%) was statistically significantly higher than in the MenC-CRM primed group (86.4% and 85.4%, respectively). One month after the Hib-MenC-TT booster, 99.2% subjects in the Hib-MenC-TT primed + MenC-TT primed pooled groups had anti-PRP levels > or =1 microg/mL, and 99.6% had SBA-MenC titers > or =1:128. The Hib-MenC-TT booster tended to be less reactogenic than the DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib control and no serious adverse events related to vaccination were reported. Eighteen months after boosting with Hib-MenC-TT, SBA-MenC titers > or =1:8 persisted in 92.7% subjects and anti-PRP > or =0.15 microg/mL persisted in 99.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Primary immunization with 3 doses of Hib-MenC-TT coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV induced antibodies that persisted up to the second year of life. The Hib-MenC-TT booster administered to primed toddlers induced robust and persistent antibody responses to both the Hib and MenC components and had an acceptable safety profile.     

Calculation of O2 saturation and of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve for different species,using a new programmable pocket calculator

The degree of O2 saturation and different data of acid-base status are determined from pO2, pH, and pCO2 values bya programmable pocket calculator. Since the operating program should be usable for different species and also in the range of very low O2 saturations, obviously the usual Hill equation for calculating the oxygen dissociation curve of hemoglobin is not applicable; the same is true is some cases for the Adair equation. Thus a 3-fold subdivision of the dissociation curve was undertaken and programmed. Suitable programs for several species could be established despite the limited number of program steps in the new calculator, giving systematic deviations in calculated O2 saturations of less than or equal to +/- 0.9 saturation precent over the full range of dissociation curves. A reverse procedure for calculation of pO2 from saturation is added. In situations where pCO2 or base excess are not known or only estimated, limits of the arising error are stated. In the acid-base program 7 parameters are evaluated partially using empirical formulae derived from nomograms. The programmable pocket calculator offers advantages of small size, economy, and independence of line voltage compared to much more spacious units and a precision equal or superior to nomograms.     

Proportional assist ventilation in infants

Proportional assist ventilation and respiratory mechanical unloading is a new mode of respiratory assistance that produces similar gas exchange with lower airway pressures than conventional ventilation in infants. This is achieved by tailoring the ventilator pressure contour to the specific derangements in lung mechanics and by a near perfect synchronization with the infant's own inspiratory effort. In contrast to conventional ventilation, PAV only amplifies the effect on ventilation of the spontaneous respiratory effort and relies on the subject's respiratory control. Whether PAV will reduce the incidence of acute complications and chronic pulmonary sequelae in infants needs to be evaluated in randomized controlled trials.     

Cross-sectional echocardiographic measurement of right atrial and right ventricular size in children with atrial septal defect before and after surgery

Summary A total of 25 children operated on for atrial septal defect were studied by cross-sectional echocardiography before and after operation. Right atrial and right ventricular dimensions and areas were measured preoperatively and 1–4 years (median, 32 months) postoperatively. The length, width, and area of the right atrium (RA) and the right ventricle (RV) were measured in the apical and the subcostal four-chamber views. The dimension of the RV outflow tract (RVOT) was measured in the parasternal short-axis view.Preoperatively, all group mean values except the subcostal four-chamber length of the RV were significantly larger than normal.After surgery, there was a significant decrease in all of the parameters studied, except for RV length. The mean postoperative values of RA measurements in the apical four-chamber view and of RVOT were still significantly larger than normal. The RV four-chamber measurements except the apical four-chamber length were not significantly enlarged. The greatest decrease in RA and RV size occurred in the first postoperative year. Longer follow-up periods did not change the measurements significantly.     

Effects of habitat structure on the retention of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) adults during drag sampling surveys

The ability of Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) to remain on drags, once acquired, was tested in sparse and dense shrub layer vegetation. When placed on bottoms of drags, adults of both species remained attached for distances three to four times greater in sparse vegetation compared with dense vegetation. When attached to the tops of drags, the differences in retention of ticks on drags between vegetation densities were significant only for A. americanum. In dense vegetation, drags should be checked at 10-m intervals, whereas in sparse vegetation this distance can be extended to 20 m without significant loss of acquired ticks.     

Efficacy of granular deltamethrin against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidade) nymphs

A single barrier application of granular deltamethrin to the woodland edges of a forested residential community in late spring significantly reduced the abundance of Ixodes scapularis Say nymphs. The application also suppressed the population of Amblyomma americanum (L.) nymphs, which recently became established in the study area. The efficacy of deltamethrin is compared with other commonly used acaricides.