Association between Carcinogenic Potency and Tumor Pathology in Rodent Carcinogenesis Bioassays

Association between Carcinogenic Potency and Tumor Pathologyin Rodent Carcinogenesis Bioassays. GOLD, L. S., WARD, J. M.,BERNSTEIN, L., AND STERN, B. (1986). Fundam Appl. Toxicol. 6,677–690. Carcinogenic potency (TD50) estimated from theresults of 88 NCI/NTP carcinogenesis bioassays was examinedby common target sites in rats and mice. Other indicators ofa chemical's hazard were investigated, including whether tumorswere induced at more than one site in a single sex-species groupof test animals, whether tumors may have caused the death ofthe animal or were found at sacrifice, and whether metastasesof induced tumors occurred. These hazard indicators are sometimesinterrelated; however, the potency (TD50) values of chemicalswhich are hazardous by each of these measures spanned a widerange. Carcinogens which caused some type of fatal tumor weremore likely than other carcinogens to cause tumors in multipleorgan sites and multiple sex-species groups. Since these otherhazard indicators were not related to carcinogenic potency,they should be included along with potency estimates such asthe TD50 in summarizing the potential dangers of human exposuresto a carcinogen and in comparisons of hazard among carcinogens.     

Developing a New Hybrid Revascularization Program: A Road Map for Hospital Managers and Physician Leaders

Hybrid coronary revascularization, which involves minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery using the left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending and percutaneous coronary intervention using drug‐eluting stents for the remaining diseased coronary vessels, is an innovative approach to decrease the morbidity of conventional surgery. Little information is available to guide hospital managers and physician leaders in implementing a hybrid revascularization program. In this article, we describe the people‐process‐technology issues that managers and leaders are likely to encounter as they develop a hybrid revascularization program in their practice. (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:557–564)     

Novel Side Branch Ostial Stent

Bifurcation lesions are technically challenging and plagued by a high incidence of restenosis, especially at the side branch orifice, which results in a more frequent need for revascularization during the follow-up period. This report discusses two clinical experiences with a novel side branch ostial stent, the BIGUARD™ stent, designed for the treatment of bifurcation lesions; procedural success with no in-hospital complications was observed in types IVb and Ia lesions.     

Extrinsic and intrinsic asthma: influence of classification on family history of asthma and allergic disease

The distributions of asthma, hay fever and eczema were examined in the first degree relatives of 516 asthmatics grouped according to atopic status, history of hay fever/eczema and history of asthma provoked by pollens, dust or animals. The prevalences of both asthma and eczema in relatives were strongly correlated with the presence of hay fever/eczema in probands and to a lesser extent with their atopic status. The prevalence of hay fever in relatives was strongly correlated with both the presence of hay fever/eczema and the degree of atopy in probands. In contrast, allergic provocation of asthma in probands did not influence the prevalences of asthma, hay fever or eczema. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there is an increased risk of asthma in relatives of atopic asthmatics which may arise from the enhanced susceptibility to asthma of individuals who inherit both a predisposition to asthma and a predisposition to atopy.     

Selective 5-HT2 receptor blockade in exercise-induced asthma

Seven young extrinsic asthmatics participated in an open, pilot study to determine the protective effect of a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) blocking agent, ketanserin, on exercise induced asthma. ketanserin in a dose of 10 mg given intravenously 20 min before exercise altered the basal bronchomotor tone in only 1 of 6 subjects and offered partial protection against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in 1 of 5 asthmatics with no overall effect in the group. All patients experienced sleepiness after administration of ketanserin and one had bradycardia with hypotension. The ineffectiveness of ketanserin suggests indirectly that serotonin has a limited role in the pathogenesis of exercise-induced asthma.     

Screening test for growth hormone deficiency: Usefulness of L-dopa-propranolol provocative test

This is a retrospective review of 185 short children who were tested for growth hormone (GH) secretion using the L-dopa-propranolol provocative test. One hundred and thirty-three children were deemed to have passed the screening test when a GH concentration of greater than 15 miu/L was elicited after stimulation. Fifty-two failed the screening test, of which 33 were diagnosed as having growth hormone deficiency (GHD) when they had inadequate growth hormone response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. The other 19 were low-responders since they showed adequate GH response to insulin tolerance test (ITT). The low-responder rate to L-dopa-propranolol provocative test among short children who are not GH deficient was 12.5%. The low cost of L-dopa and propranolol, the simplicity and safety of the test, and the acceptable rate of low-responders make the test an effective screening test for GHD.     

Diet and Physical Activity Patterns of Lakota Indian Adults

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed specific dietary practices and overall physical activity patterns of Lakota adults residing on Indian reservations in South Dakota. Perceived barriers to changing dietary and physical activity behaviors were also examined. DESIGN: A convenience sample of Lakota adults was surveyed. Data on consumption of higher-fat foods, fruit and vegetable intake, use of sugar-sweetened beverages, physical activity patterns, and barriers to change in diet and physical activity were collected via in-person interviews. SUBJECTS/SETTING: A total of 219 adults from 2 adjacent reservations in South Dakota participated. RESULTS: Higher-fat foods consumed most frequently included margarine and butter (32.0% > or = 5 times per week); eggs (30.1% > or = 5 times per week); whole milk (25.7% > or = 5 times per week); potato chips, corn chips, and popcorn (15.1% > or = 5 times per week); and bacon and sausage (13.3% > or = 5 times per week). Few subjects reported consuming fruit on a daily basis. Vegetables were consumed somewhat more frequently. Most subjects reported engaging in mild or moderate physical activities 3 or more times per week, although women were found to engage in moderate and strenuous physical activities less frequently than men. Major barriers to fruit intake included expense (16.4%), quality (14.2%), and availability (13.2%). Barriers to vegetable intake mentioned most frequently included availability (11.4%), cost (10.4%), and quality (9.1%). Taste was the most frequently mentioned barrier to cutting intake of high-fat foods (27.9%). Lack of child care (15.8%), lack of time (14.7%), and safety concerns (14.6%) were the most salient barriers to regular exercise. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition interventions are needed that address the major barriers to diet change reported by Lakota adults. Efforts to increase physical activity should focus on Lakota women and should address the identified barriers to regular exercise.     

RECOVERY OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AFTER ANAESTHESIA WITH DESFLURANE OR ISOFLURANE AND NITROUS OXIDE

We studied recovery in 25 adult patients, ASA I, undergoingelective orthopaedic procedures after anaesthesia with 0.65MAC desflurane (n = 16) or isoflurane (n = 9) with 60% nitrousoxide in oxygen. Early emergence from anaesthesia was assessedin the operating room by measuring time to spontaneous movement,cough, response to painful pinch, tracheal extubation, openingof the eyes and stating correct age, name and body parts. Thereturn of cognitive functions in the late recovery phase wasassessed in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) by post-anaesthesiarecovery scores (PARS), the Trieger dot test (TDT). and thedigit substitution test (DST). In the early recovery phase,time to tracheal extubation, opening eyes, telling correct name,age and body parts occurred significantly faster in the desfluranegroup than in the isoflurane group (P < 0.05). The mean "tripleorientation" time (to name, age, body parts) was 10.9 (SEM 0.9)min for desflurane, compared with 18.6 (2.5) min for isoflurane(P < 0.01). In the late recovery phase, desflurane patientshad significantly greater PARS, more correct responses to theDST and fewer error responses to the TDT. Recovery times werenot increased by increased duration of desflurane anaesthesia.The desflurane patients showed no delirium, minimal sedationand less shivering during the entire postoperative course. Weconclude that desflurane anaesthesia was superior to isofluraneanaesthesia, not only in emergence, but also in the recoveryof cognitive functions. ^*Present address: Department of Anesthesiology, Veterans GeneralHospital, and Yang Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.      

肌浆网钙泵的抑制不参与过氧化氢诱导的大鼠主动脉收缩

目的:研究肌浆网钙泵抑制是否参与H_2O_2诱导的大鼠主动脉收缩反应。方法:离体主动脉环张力实验比较H_2O_2及钙泵特异性抑制剂环匹阿尼酸(CPA)缩血管效应及其信号机制的差异。结果:H_2O_2和CPA均收缩去内皮主动脉环,但H_2O_2触发快速短暂相位相收缩,而CPA诱导缓慢持续的张力相收缩。在无钙液中,仅CPA30μmol/L而非H_2O_230μmol/L预处理取消苯肾上腺素10μmol/L缩血管效应。Thap-sigargin 30μmol/L诱导最大收缩反应时,仅H_2O_2能使血管环进一步收缩。另外,P_2受体拮抗剂suramin、RB-2(各100μmol/L)以及多种酶抑制剂包括PLC、PKC、PLA_2、COX和蛋白质酪氨酸激酶均能抑制H_2O_2而非CPA诱导的缩血管效应,但2-APB50μmol/L对两者都有抑制作用。结论:肌浆网钙泵抑制不是H_2O_2收缩大鼠去内皮主动脉的机制。     

毒性中药生川乌质量标准研究

目的:建立毒性中药生川乌的液质联用等质量检验方法。方法:采用显微、化学、液相色谱、液质联用方法进行定性鉴别、含量测定。结果:采用液相色谱质谱/质谱联用具有灵敏、专属性强等优点,适用于微量乌头生物碱的检测。结论:建立的方法可为其质量标准的提高提供参考。