Effect of matrigel on the tumorigenicity of human breast and ovarian carcinoma cell lines

The effect of Matrigel, a solubilised tissue basement membrane extract, has been investigated on the tumorigenicity of 3 breast (MCF-7, T47D and MDA.MB.231) and 5 ovarian [PEO1, PEO1 cDDPr, PEO4, PEO14 and OV(hyg)CAR3] carcinoma cell lines. In the absence of Matrigel, the PEO14 and MDA.MB.231 cell lines produced take rates of 30% and 50%, respectively, while the other cell lines either did not develop or only occasionally developed as tumours. With Matrigel, 100% take rates were achieved for 7 of the 8 cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, MDA.MB.231, PEO1, PEO1 cDDPr, PEO4 and PEO14); in the remaining cell line [OV(hyg)CAR3] 2/6 (33%) tumours grew. Xenografts established with Matrigel could be transferred into recipient animals and grown in the absence of Matrigel, suggesting that Matrigel is necessary only for initial establishment of tumours. Furthermore, cells which had been re-established from a T47D xenograft and then inoculated into mice without Matrigel showed a take rate greater than that of the original cell line but less than that of the xenograft. In conclusion, Matrigel has proven to be extremely useful in establishing a variety of cell lines as xenografts. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Consumer Audit of Community Learning Disability Teams

In 1993, the four Community Learning Disability Teams in Sandwell set up Quality Standards to govern their function. A consumer audit was undertaken to assess views of users and carers on delivery and operation of the service. The results were presented to the teams who modified their practice accordingly. Some of the difficulties encountered in carrying out consumer audit with users who have severe learning disabilities are described.     

CD2+, CD3-, CD56/NCAM+ malignant lymphoma with TCRβ gene rearrangement: A case report

A case of CD56/NCAM+ malignant lymphoma is reported. Only a rare malignant lymphoma cell showed azurophilic granules in the cytoplasm of Giesma-stained preparations, while electron microscopic examination revealed occasional cytoplasmic granules with paracrystalline inclusions. The most common phenotype seen in NK lymphomas, CD2+, CD3-, CD56+, CD16-, CD57-, was present in the case. Cases with this phenotype have been interpreted to represent either true NK lymphoma or T-cell lymphoma with NK expression. Genotyping, where performed, has shown TCR germline configuration. Our case showed TCRβ rearrangement indicating that the above phenotype can be associated with a peripheral T-cell lymphoma.     

Beyond the interpersonal circumplex in group psychotherapy: The structure and relationship to outcome of the individual group member interpersonal process scale

Development of a new scale to measure patient behavior in group psychotherapy, the Individual Group Member Interpersonal Process Scale (IGIPS), is described. This scale captures clinically important aspects of how patients act in group, including how they respond to the other group members. The IGIPS was applied to videotapes of the first four sessions of seven 15-session outpatient therapy groups (52 patients) in the Mental Heatlh Department of a health maintenance organization. The scale was found to have five factors (Activity, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Comfort with Self, Self-Focus, and Psychological Mindedness). Patient behavior that was moderate on two IGIPS dimensions was connected with better outcome than was that of patients with more extreme behavior in either direction. Portions of this work were presented to the meeting of the North American Society for Psychotherapy Research, Panama City, FL, November 1991. This work was supported by grant R01-MH40131-04 from the National Institute of Mental Health and by support from the Harvard Community Health Plan Foundation.     

Pneumothorax in a Thiel cadaver model of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

<正>INTRODUCTION There has been some previous research in the field of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using cadaver models.^[1] The Thiel method was developed by Professor Walter Thiel (Graz, Austria) and described in 1992 and 2002. It consists of both an intravascular injection of the embalming solution and submersion of the bodies in a tank with the same solution for a determined period.^[2,3]