Microbore HPLC method with online microdialysis for measurement of topotecan lactone and carboxylate in murine CSF

We developed a chromatography method to measure lactone and carboxylate forms of topotecan (TPT) in mouse cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using microdialysis sampling. The chromatography method utilized a microbore (0.8 mm) column. Analytes, which eluted in less than 5 min, were detected with a fluorescence detector. The calibration range was 0.25-100.0 ng/mL for both forms. The within-day and between-day precision was < or =16% for 0.8 ng/mL and < or =8.0% for 3, 12, and 80 ng/mL. Accuracy was +/-15% (0.8 and 3 ng/mL) and +/-10% (12 and 80 ng/mL). TPT lactone hydrolyzes to the carboxylate during sampling, so we developed an equation and parameters to describe the TPT lactone hydrolysis in artificial CSF (aCSF). After TPT administration, CSF dialysate samples (2 microL) were analyzed for lactone and carboxylate using online injection. The hydrolysis of each dialysate sample was then estimated and a correction applied. We conclude that this HPLC method coupled with online microdialysis sampling allows for the rapid measurement of both TPT forms in small volumes of murine CSF dialysate. The system allows for the determination of TPT pharmacokinetics in murine CSF and provides a tool to extend pharmacological studies in this brain compartment.     

Successful colchicine administration in facial granulomas caused by cosmetic implants: report of a case

Injectable cutaneous microimplants may occasionally cause either persistent local irritation or late skin reactions in the form of foreign body granulomas at the injected areas. Permanent elimination of the latter is not easily achieved. The skin of a female patient developed nodules along the treated sites on her face a few months following the last session of intracutaneous injections. Intralesional steroids offered temporary and incomplete clearance. Colchicine was administered orally for better results.     

Effect of Thalidomide on the Expression of TNF-α m-RNA and Synthesis of TNF-α in Cells from Leprosy Patients with Reversal Reaction

Hypersensitivity reactions called reversal reaction (RR) and erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) occur in leprosy. They are characterized by an increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Thalidomide is an effective treatment for ENL but not RR. Its effectiveness in ENL is attributed to inhibition of TNF-α, and this does not explain its failure to treat RR. We assessed thalidomide's effect on TNF-α in RR. Mononuclear cells from RR and non-RR patients and healthy individuals were treated with thalidomide and M.leprae (AFB), a cytosol fraction of M. leprae or Dharmendra lepromin. Thalidomide suppressed TNF-α, but when some RR patients' cells were stimulated with AFB, it enhanced TNF-α.     

The adolescent female prostitute and sexually transmitted diseases.

Prostitution may be seen as an adolescent's cry for help. A review into the background of the problem, the groups and individuals involved and the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases amongst them is presented. Psychological analysis and behavioural trends, especially in relation to attitudes towards sex, sexually transmitted diseases and intravenous drug abuse are examined.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses infection in chronic alcoholics with or without liver disease in Ioannina, Greece: Low incidence of HCV infection

Intravenous heroin abusers comprise a high risk group for hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) infection. Chronic alcoholics with liver disease (LD) also comprise a high risk group for HBV infection whereas the frequency of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) ranges from 27–42.6%. In this study, HBV and HCV infection markers were determined in alcoholic patients with (83 patients) or without LD (68 patients) in order to assess the prevalence of these markers (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb and anti-HCV). The reason for the study was a lack of established data in this group of patients in Greece. The disease control groups consisted of 70 non-alcoholic hospitalized patients and 60 heroin addicts, whereas 1342 healthy blood donors were also investigated. Our results showed significantly increased prevalence of HBV infection markers in chronic alcoholic patients compared to healthy controls and non-alcoholic hospitalized patients. The findings were independent of the presence or absence of LD. In contrast to heroin addicts, where anti-HCV antibodies were observed in 90%, there was no difference in the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in chronic alcoholics (with or without LD), nonalcoholic hospitalized patients or healthy controls. In conclusion, we found that in this area of northwestern Greece, chronic alcoholics, independent of the presence of LD, comprise a high risk group for HBV infection but very rarely have HCV infection. The latter finding may reflect technical or socioeconomic differences regarding the lifestyle of our patients, and our population in general.     

Circle Of Life Cancer Education: Giving Voice to American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

The Circle Of Life (COL) was first developed in 1991 as a breast health program through a partnership between the American Cancer Society and a committee of lay and professional volunteers in Oklahoma, with representation from Oklahoma American Indian tribal communities. In 2008, The Society was awarded funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand and enhance COL. Since then, The Society has engaged a variety of tribal health and education leaders and Society staff to comprise a COL advisory workgroup. The workgroup’s mission was to make recommendations and provide guidance in the revision of COL. Four cultural values emerged from the engagement of the workgroup: (1) the value of visual communication, (2) the value of interconnected generations, (3) the value of storytelling, and (4) the value of experiential learning. These four concepts greatly shaped the revision of the COL educational tools and resources.     

Coarse-grained stochastic processes for microscopic lattice systems

Diverse scientific disciplines ranging from materials science to catalysis to biomolecular dynamics to climate modeling involve nonlinear interactions across a large range of physically significant length scales. Here a class of coarse-grained stochastic processes and corresponding Monte Carlo simulation methods, describing computationally feasible mesoscopic length scales, are derived directly from microscopic lattice systems. It is demonstrated below that the coarse-grained stochastic models can capture large-scale structures while retaining significant microscopic information. The requirement of detailed balance is used as a systematic design principle to guarantee correct noise fluctuations for the coarse-grained model. The coarse-grained stochastic algorithms provide large computational savings without increasing programming complexity or computer time per executive event compared to microscopic Monte Carlo simulations.     

Preoperative assessment as a predictor of mortality and morbidity after lung resection

To refine the functional guidelines for operability for lung resection, we prospectively studied 55 consecutive patients with suspected lung malignancy thought to be surgically resectable. Lung function and exercise capacity were measured preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Preoperative pulmonary scintigraphy was used to calculate the contribution to overall function by the affected lung or lobe and to predict postoperative lung function. Pneumonectomy was performed in 18 patients, lobectomy in 29, and thoracotomy without resection in six. No surgery was attempted in two patients who were considered functionally inoperable. Cardiopulmonary complications developed in 16 patients within 30 days of surgery, including three deaths. The predictions of postoperative function correlated well with the measured values at 3 months. For FEV1, r = 0.51 in pneumonectomy (p less than 0.05) and 0.89 in lobectomy (p less than 0.001). Predicted postoperative FEV1 (FEV1-ppo), diffusing capacity (DLCO), predicted postoperative DLCO (DLCO-ppo) and exercise-induced arterial O2 desaturation (delta SaO2) were predictive of postoperative complications including death and respiratory failure. In patients who underwent pneumonectomy, the best predictor of death was FEV1-ppo. The predictions were enhanced by expressing the value as a percentage of the predicted normal value (% pred) rather than in absolute units. For the entire surgical group a FEV1-ppo greater than or equal to 40% pred was associated with no postoperative mortality (n = 47), whereas a value less than 40% pred was associated with a 50% mortality (n = 6), suggesting that resection is feasible when FEV1-ppo is greater than or equal to 40% pred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)