Effect of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil kinetics in normal young and elderly humans

Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered to healthy young (n = 32) and elderly (n = 19) volunteers (0 microgram/d, 30 microgram/d, or 300 microgram/d) to determine its effect on neutrophil production, blood kinetics, and tissue migration. Measurements included blood counts (daily), marrow neutrophil pool sizes and neutrophil tissue migration (baseline and day 5), blood kinetics (day 6), and marrow transit time while on drug (days 6 to 14). G-CSF markedly expanded the marrow neutrophil mitotic pool and shortened the transit time of the postmitotic pool (control, mean = 6.4 days; 300 microgram/d, mean = 2.9 d). G-CSF increased neutrophil production without significantly altering blood neutrophil half-life or margination. Compared to control, neutrophil accumulation in skin chambers decreased by about 50% in the 300 microgram/d group in both young and elderly subjects. G-CSF induced neutrophilia by stimulating proliferation of marrow neutrophil precursors and accelerating neutrophil entry into the blood. Decreased neutrophil inflammatory responses measured with the skin chamber technique may be because of the relative immaturity of the circulating cells or to alterations in neutrophil phenotype induced by G-CSF.     

Phenytoin Penetration into Brain After Administration of Phenytoin or Fosphenytoin

Summary: Purpose: This study was designed to measure the brain penetration of phenytoin (PHT) after intravenous (i.v.) administration of either standard PHT or fosphenytoin (FPHT), a PHT prodrug. The study was formulated to answer the question whether the time required for FPHT to be converted to PHT in the bloodstream would delay the accumulation of PHT in brain. Methods: Four rats were sampled at various times after intravenous infusion of 30 mg/kg PHT i.v. or 30 mg/kg PHT equivalents of FPHT i.v. PHT was measured in serum, protein-free ultrafiltrate, and in brain, by using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Although the initial PHT-free fraction was significantly higher for FPHT-treated rats than it was for PHT-treated rats, brain PHT levels were significantly reduced after infusion of FPHT. Conclusions: When FPHT is used for treatment of generalized status epilepticus, it should be anticipated that lower initial brain PHT levels will be achieved than are typically found with standard PHT.     

IMPORTANCE OF DONOR SELECTION IN RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

Renal transplantation has become a treatment of choice for patients with end stage renal disease. A successful transplant is the result of a combination of several factors acting synergistically, such as the degree of HLA compatibility between donor and the recipient, pretransplant blood transfusions, the recipient''s state of immunoreactivity and sensitization, immunosuppressive therapy given in post operative period etc. Donor selection appears to be the most critical factor for the long term success of the organ graft. In this brief review, some of the important parameters of donor selection in renal transplantation are highlighted.KEY WORDS: Histocompatibility (HLA) matching, Cross match, Sensitization     

人卵促性腺激素释放肽（hF－GRP）及其类似物合成和生物活性初探

用固相法合成了ｈＦ－ＧＲＰ及其１５个类似物。全部裂解均用三氟甲磺酸完成。产物总收率６０％～８０％。对所有合成肽进行了影响离体的小鼠垂体分泌ＬＨ的活性筛选。结果表明，当合成肽的浓度为０．０５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ时：（１）将ｈＦ－ＧＲＰ的Ｃ端ＣＯＯＨ变成ＣＯＮＨ２，活性变化不大；（２）Ｃ端残基Ａｓｎ１４被Ｐｈｅ替换后刺激垂体分泌ＬＨ的活性明显高于ｈＦ－ＧＲＰ；（３）Ｔｈｒ３被Ｔｙｒ替换后片段ｈＦ－ＧＲＰ（３～１３）有抑制ＬＨ分泌的活性；（４）其余类似物与空白对照相似。     

异一枝蒿酮酸的结构

从新疆一枝蒿(Artemisia rupestris L.)中分得一个新成分,命名为异一枝蒿酮酸(isorupestonic acid),根据光谱(IR,UV,MS.NMR),X-ray晶体衍射及CD谱分析,确定其结构及绝对构型。并经X-ray晶体衍射及CD谱分析修正了一枝蒿酮酸的绝对构型。     

EARLY DIAGNOSIS IN POST RENAL TRANSPLANT OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS: A FRESH LOOK

A total of 86 renal transplant patients who were transplanted with live related donor (LRD) and live unrelated donor (LURD) kidneys were studied for opportunistic infections. Immune diagnosis of Toxoplasma, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes-simplex virus type II (HSV-2), Aspergillosis and Tuberculosis was carried out in these patients along with sputum examination, CSF studies and biopsy of lymphnode and other tissues in few cases. A high degree of Toxoplasma, CMV & HSV-2 positivity was seen in transplanted patients. However sensitivity of serological diagnosis of tuberculos was found to be low with standard criteria, which increased significantly when modified criteria were used. It is concluded that regular immunological monitoring should be carried out in transplanted patients so as to reach an early diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections.KEY WORDS: Immune diagnosis, Opportunistic infections, Transplantation     

Health information styles among participants in a prostate cancer screening informed decision-making intervention

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of a health information styles segmentation strategy in understanding audience subgroups. We examined the health information styles of men participating in a prostate cancer screening informed decision-making (IDM) intervention and assessed intervention effects on men with distinct health information styles. We classified participants into three health information style groups based on their independence in health decision making (independent versus doctor dependent) and engagement in health enhancement (active versus passive): independent active (IA), doctor-dependent active (DDA) and passive. We developed profiles of men in these groups: IAs tended to be white and more highly educated and to have greater baseline prostate cancer knowledge; DDAs were older, less healthy and more likely to have visited a doctor in the past year and passives tended to be younger, not to have had a recent prostate-specific antigen test and to have lower self-efficacy related to communication with doctors and less positive interactions with doctors. All groups significantly increased their prostate cancer knowledge after the intervention, but passives exhibited the greatest increase in knowledge at a 6-month follow-up. The health information styles segmentation strategy used in this study offers a viable framework for segmenting audiences.