Utilization of screening mammography: comparison of different physician specialties

Data obtained on 426 consecutive patients referred to a breast center by 122 physicians, including family practitioners, general surgeons, and other specialists, showed that the obstetricians-gynecologists referred the greatest average number of patients per physician, with more than 50% of these referrals for screening mammography. Internists referred fewer patients by nearly a factor of ten, with only one-third of these patients referred for screening mammography. Internists may be the weakest link in the utilization of screening mammography.     

Characterization of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase in human liver and lung

Dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DD; EC 1.3.1.20) will oxidize non-K-region trans-dihydrodiols of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a reaction that can suppress the formation of PAHs) anti-diol epoxides or ultimate carcinogens. Using benzenedihydrodiol [(+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-cyclohexadiene] as a model substrate for trans-dihydrodiol metabolites of PAHs, 23 human liver and eight human lung samples were examined for enzyme activity. In human liver, enzyme activity could be measured spectrophotometrically and specific activities ranged from 0.16 to 6.1 nmol benzenedihydrodiol oxidized min/mg protein. Western blot analysis of human liver cytosol using rabbit anti-rat DD serum detected two bands of mol. wts 34,000 and 27,000. The former mol. wt is identical to that observed for the homogeneous rat liver enzyme. Gel-filtration experiments indicate that human liver DD activity elutes as a single peak and co-elutes with the purified rat liver enzyme, suggesting that the lower mol. wt species may be an artefact of degradation. Preparations of the human liver enzyme required NADP- for activity and were in general, insensitive to inhibition by dicoumarol, indomethacin and 6-medroxyprogesterone acetate. These properties distinguish the enzyme from alcohol dehydrogenase, quinone reductase and rat liver DD. In human lung, DD activity was barely detectable using a sensitive radiochemical assay in which the oxidation of benzenedihydrodiol to catechol is linked to catechol-O-methyl transferase using [3H]S-adenosyl methionine as methyl donor. Specific activities were approximately 1000th of that observed for human liver and ranged from 1 to 4 pmol benzenedihydrodiol oxidized/min/mg protein. Western blot analysis of lung cytosol detected three bands of mol. wts 34,000, 31,000 and 28,000. The relatively high levels of DD in human liver suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in PAH detoxication in this organ, while the low levels of DD in lung may contribute to the susceptibility of this tissue to PAH-induced carcinogenesis.     

The role of prostaglandins in early polyuria induced by cisplatin in the rat

To assess a possible role of prostaglandins in the early phase of cisplatin-induced abnormalities in renal concentrating ability, three groups of rats were studied. In a first group we measured prostaglandin production from renal medullary microsomes isolated from rats sacrificed at different time periods after cisplatin, 5 mg/kg alone (PB/CP) or cisplatin plus aspirin, 300 mg/kg p.o., 1 h before cisplatin and daily (ASA/CP). In a second group of rats, balance studies were performed in PB/CP and ASA/CP animals for 4 days after cisplatin to determine the effect of such treatment on the renal excretion of solute and water. In another group of rats inulin clearance was measured in PB/CP and ASA/CP animals 4 days after such treatment. The rats received aspirin or phosphate buffer alone (50 mg/ml sodium phosphate, pH 8) to determine the effect of such treatment on prostaglandin production and renal function. In PB/CP Uosm fell and prostaglandin synthesis increased on days 1-3. Prostaglandin synthesis returned to baseline values by day 4, but Uosm remained low. Inulin clearance was low 4 days after cisplatin. In ASA/CP rats prostaglandin synthesis did not increase and the early polyuria was ameliorated. Aspirin did not prevent the later polyuria. Inulin clearance in the ASA/CP group was markedly reduced to levels below those observed with cisplatin alone. These data demonstrate that elevated rates of prostaglandin synthesis occur early in the course of cisplatin-induced renal failure and suggest that prostaglandins may play a role in the early cisplatin-induced concentrating defect.     

Characterization of dihydrodiol dehydrogenase in human liver and lung

The publishers wish to apologise for the loss of some essentialdetail to figure 2. This figure is reprinted below.     

HIV-1-Prävalenz bei Drogentoten in verschiedenen Großstädten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und in Westberlin zwischen 1985 und 1988

Zusammenfassung Ausgewertet wurde die HIV-Seroprävalenz bei Drogentoten in Westberlin, Frankfurt, München, Hamburg, Bremen, Köln und Stuttgart in den Jahren 1985–1988 (n=753); im Jahre 1988 wurden 43% von insgesamt 674 Drogentoten erfaßt. Die Prävalenz lag regional zwischen 15 und 25%; nur in Berlin betrug sie 42%. Kumuliert belief sich die Prävalenz in allen Städten über den gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum auf 26%. Zu beobachten war ein Überwiegen des männlichen Geschlechts bei den getesteten Rauschgifttoten. Die kumulierte HIV-1-Prävalenz bei den Frauen (40%) war doppelt so hoch wie bei den Männern (22%). Der Altersdurchschnitt sowohl der männlichen Rauschgifttoten als auch der männlichen HIV-Positiven lag um 2–3 Jahre höher als bei den Frauen. Durch eine kontinuierliche Erfassung der HIV-1-Prävalenz bei den Rauschgifttoten kann die Rechtsmedizin einen Beitrag zur Erfassung des Ausbreitungsmodus in der Risikogruppe der i.v.-Drogenabhängigen leisten.In Hamburg gefördert durch Mittel des Bundesministers für Forschung und Technologie (FKZ Nr. II-077-89)     

Acute acalculous cholecystitis: sensitivity in detection using technetium-99m iminodiacetic acid cholescintigraphy

Forty-one proved cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis imaged with technetium-99m iminodiacetic acid (IDA) cholescintigraphy were retrospectively analyzed. After the exclusion of one indeterminate scan (showing poor initial hepatic uptake and excretion), the study yielded a 92.5% (37 of 40) sensitivity for the detection of cystic or common bile duct obstruction. Each of the three patients with false-negative scintigrams had other abnormal scintigraphic findings suggestive of biliary tract disease. Of the 20 patients (48.8%) with focal or diffuse gangrenous cholecystitis or perforation, seven (35%) exhibited either free peritoneal spill or increased pericholecystic activity to indicate the presence of advanced disease.     

犬内皮与平滑肌细胞的短期静态联合培养

目的:为获得组织工程化自体血管,观察体外静态培养条件下犬内皮细胞与平滑肌细胞联合培养组织学及形态学的特征。方法:实验于2004-07/2005-06在首都医科大学宣武医院外科院级实验室完成。①实验材料:雄性杂种犬,3个月龄,体质量8～12kg。②实验方法:贴块法及酶解法对犬内皮细胞及平滑肌细胞进行原代分离培养及扩增,将第Ⅱ代平滑肌细胞以1×109L-1的密度种植于胶原膜上培养13d,再将第Ⅱ代内皮细胞接种于生长平滑肌细胞的胶原膜上2d。③实验评估:行苏木精-伊红染色同时扫描电镜和透射电镜观察平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞在胶原载体上联合培养后的形态。结果:苏木精-伊红染色见平滑肌细胞较均匀的分布于支架材料表面及内部;扫描电镜下,平滑肌细胞可以在胶原载体材料上生长,增殖明显并在短期内形成多层细胞。内皮细胞与平滑肌细胞联合培养2d就可在平滑肌细胞层表面获得连续的单层内皮细胞层。结论:在短期静态培养条件下犬的血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞可以在胶原载体材料上形成具有两层细胞结构的组织工程化动脉血管组织片。     

Blood group A immunodeterminants on human red cells differ in biologic activity and sensitivity to alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase

BACKGROUND: Epitopes of blood group A antigen can be enzymatically cleaved from red cells (RBCs), but the extent of cleavage required for normal survival in allogeneic blood transfusion recipients is unknown. Therefore, the cleavage rates were studied for A antigen epitope binding of 1) complement-activating anti-A, 2) Dolichos biflorus anti- A, lectin, and 3) hemagglutinating anti-A during incubation with a purified alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, E.C. 3.2.1.49 (alpha- GalNAc'ase). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Suspensions of group A RBCs were incubated with alpha-GalNAc'ase. Cells were removed at intervals, washed, and tested for loss of binding by monoclonal, polyclonal, and complement-activating anti-A, D. biflorus anti-A1 lectin, and Ulex europaeus anti-H lectin. RESULTS: A epitopes binding D. biflorus lectin were highly susceptible to alpha-GalNAc'ase; simultaneously with their loss, binding with U. europaeus lectin emerged. Loss of complement- mediated hemolysis was slower. A epitopes binding hemagglutinating anti- A were most resistant. Cleavage of A epitopes from membrane glycosphingolipids with short oligosaccharide chains was similarly resistant. Rates of cleavage from A1 and A2 RBCs were similar. CONCLUSION: RBC epitopes of blood group A differ in susceptibility to cleavage and biologic reactivity, which suggests that subsets mediating important biologic functions exist on functionally and topographically distinct membrane glycoconjugates.