Use of an electrocardiograph to record the skin-resistance response with a new type of electrode

A new method is described for recording the emotion-induced decrease in skin resistance area, which is known as the skin-resistance response (SRR). The method employs a simple current source and a new type of tetrapolar electrode in which the SRR is measured with the non-current-carrying electrodes. The signal produced can be recorded with a standard electrocardiograph. Typical SRRs from two subjects are presented.     

Evaluation of patients undergoing lung volume reduction surgery: ancillary information available from computed tomography

AIM: A number of imaging techniques have been used for the pre-operative assessment of patients for lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). We evaluated whether data currently acquired from perfusion scintigrams and cine MR of the diaphragm are obtainable from high resolution CT (HRCT) of the thorax. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients taking part in a randomized controlled trial of LVRS against maximal medical therapy were evaluated. HRCT examinations (n= 30) were scored for (i) the extent and distribution of emphysema; (ii) the extent of normal pulmonary vasculature; and (iii) diaphragmatic contour, apparent defects and herniation. On scintigraphy, (n= 28), perfusion of the lower thirds of both lungs, as a proportion of total lung perfusion (LZ/T(PERF)), was expressed as a percentage of predicted values (derived from 10 normal control subjects). On cine MR (n= 25) hemidiaphragmatic excursion and coordination were recorded. RESULTS: Extensive emphysema was present on HRCT (60% +/- 13.2%). There was strong correlation between the extent of normal pulmonary vasculature on HRCT and on perfusion scanning (r(s)= 0.85, P< 0.00005). Hemidiaphragmatic incoordination on MR was weakly associated with hemidiaphragmatic eventration on HRCT (P= 0.04). CONCLUSION: The strong correlation between lung perfusion assessed by HRCT and lung perfusion on scintigraphy suggests that perfusion scintigraphy is superfluous in the pre-operative evaluation of patients with emphysema for LVRS.     

Duration of chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer: a Cancer Research Campaign trial

A total of 610 patients with small cell lung cancer were entered into a randomised trial designed to assess the effect of duration of initial chemotherapy on survival. Patients were randomised to receive either four or eight courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and etoposide and also randomised to receive, on disease progression, either second line chemotherapy (methotrexate and doxorubicin) or symptomatic treatment only. In the whole study 196 (32.1%) had limited disease and 414 (67.9%) extensive disease. During initial chemotherapy the response rate (complete and partial responses) after four courses of treatment was 61% with no significant increase in patients receiving eight courses (63%). In those randomised to receive relapse chemotherapy the response rate was improved slightly for those who had originally received four courses of chemotherapy (25.6%) over those receiving eight (18.7%). The overall results show that of the four possible treatment randomizations, four courses of chemotherapy alone is inferior in terms of overall survival (30 weeks median survival) to the other three treatment options (39 weeks median survival, P less than 0.01). In patients responding to initial chemotherapy the disadvantage of four courses of chemotherapy alone was apparent (median survival of 40 weeks versus 49 weeks, P = 0.003) but not if drug treatment was given on relapse. The study shows that limiting treatment to four courses of chemotherapy alone is associated with inferior survival, but this is not the case if chemotherapy is given at relapse.     

Malignant melanoma in Europe: changes in mortality rates (1970-90) in European Community countries

Reducing mortality, especially premature death, is a major goal of the fight against cancer. In this study, we have analyzed trends in malignant melanoma (MM) mortality in the European Community (EC) as a whole and for each country. The data (obtained from the World Health Organization data bank) have been analyzed for the period 1970-90, by age groups (20-44, 45-64, 65-74, 75+ years). Trends are presented as percentage change of mortality rate for each three-year period in comparison with the rate in the first one (1970-72). The mortality from MM in the EC as a whole increased for both genders (men, +89.2 percent; women, +72.6 percent), with statistically significant trends in all age classes. Northern countries experienced mortality changes about 30 to 50 percent less than the EC average increase. Greater changes were seen in southern European countries, in which recent standardized rates are near to those observed in northern European populations. Among Mediterranean people, the highest increase (more than fourfold) was observed in Spain. The significant increase found for the younger age class makes unlikely the risk of misclassification with other skin cancers. No future decrease in MM mortality in the EC is indicated from these data.     

An evaluation of chemical photoreactivity and the relationship to phototoxicity

The existing regulatory guidance for photosafety testing of new drug products states that studies are warranted for those chemicals that both absorb light in the range of 290–700 nm, and that are either applied locally/topically, or “reach” (EMEA)/“significantly partition” (FDA) to the skin or eyes. The initial in vitro study recommended for the assessment of phototoxic potential is the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) Assay. The current study was undertaken to establish superior triggers for the initiation of biological photosafety testing. In this study, photophysical and photochemical parameters for 40 drug or drug-like molecules were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and a fivefold cross-validation PLS algorithm were used to evaluate the relationship between subsets of photophysical and photochemical parameters with the 3T3 NRU PIF/MPE (Photo Irritation Factor/Mean Photo Effect) results. The parameters most indicative of a 3T3 NRU positive PIF or MPE score were the extent of degradation in solution, the quantum yield of formation of singlet oxygen and the relative formation of superoxide anion. The results demonstrate that while absorption of light is critical to the induction of a light-induced process, it is the resultant events that may be used to predict the 3T3 NRU assay result. It is therefore proposed that the trigger for photosafety testing be revised to include a molecular basis for photoreactivity. From this limited investigation, estimated thresholds leading to 3T3 NRU positive results due to photodegradation, formation of singlet oxygen quantum yield or a relative superoxide anion formation value are proposed.     

经皮椎体注入骨水泥治疗老年脊椎骨质疏松压缩性骨折

目的:观察经皮椎体内注入骨水泥(聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯)治疗脊椎骨质疏松压缩性骨折的疗效。方法:自2005-06/2006-06吉林大学中日联谊医院骨科及大庆龙南医院骨科对35例40个椎体的骨质疏松压缩性骨折患者使用经皮椎体内注射骨水泥,行椎体成形术。成形材料:美国KYPHON公司生产的骨水泥,生产准许号:(GB/T19001-2000和YY/T0287-1996)。结果:35例患者均参加随访6个月。术后均未出现骨水泥外漏、脊髓或马尾神经损伤等并发症。35例患者中5例出现穿刺部位局部疼痛,服用镇痛药物后均缓解。疼痛完全消失25例,占71.4%;明显缓解8例,占22.6%;轻度缓解2例,占6.0%;无缓解0例。15例患者在术后72h内均能下床活动。术后未再发生压缩性骨折及疼痛。结论:经皮椎体注入骨水泥可以有效改善椎体骨质疏松压缩性骨折患者疼痛症状,随访6个月未出现充填剂不良性宿主反应,临床疗效较好。     

The extra- and intracellular barriers to lipid and adenovirus-mediated pulmonary gene transfer in native sheep airway epithelium.

Gene transfer to the respiratory epithelium is currently suboptimal and may be helped by the identification of limiting biological barriers. We have, therefore, developed an ex vivo model which retains many of the characteristics of in vivo native airways including mucociliary clearance, mucus coverage and an intact cellular structure. Using this model we have demonstrated several barriers to gene transfer. Liposome-mediated gene transfer was inhibited by normal mucus, with removal of this layer increasing expression approximately 25-fold. In addition both liposome and adenovirus were inhibited by CF sputum. The apical membrane represented a significant barrier to both agents. Adenovirus-mediated expression could be significantly augmented by increasing contact time or by pre-treatment of tissues with a nominally calcium-free medium. The presence of these extracellular and plasma membrane barriers appeared to be the key parameters responsible for the approximately three log difference in gene expression found in vitro compared with our ex vivo model. Cytoskeletal elements and the cell cycle also influenced in vitro gene transfer, and represent further barriers which need to be overcome.