Differential effects of luminol,nickel, and arsenite on the rejoining of ultraviolet light and alkylation-induced DNA breaks

When Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with ultraviolet (UV) light or methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), a large number of DNA strand breaks could be detected by alkaline elution. These strand breaks gradually disappeared if the treated cells were allowed to recover in a drug-free medium. The presence of nickel or arsenite during the recovery incubation retarded the disappearance of UV-induced strand breaks, whereas the disappearance of MMS-induced strand breaks was retarded by the presence of arsenite or of luminol, a new inhibitor for poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase. Luminol, however, had no apparent effect on the repair of UV-induced DNA strand breaks, and nickel had no effect on the repair of MMS-induced DNA strand breaks. When UV- or MMS-treated cells were incubated in cytosine arabinofuranoside (AraC) plus hydroxyurea (HU), a large amount of low molecular weight DNA was detected by alkaline sucrose sedimentation. The molecular weight of these DNAs increased if the cells were further incubated in a drug-free medium. This rejoining of breaks in cells pretreated with UV plus AraC and HU was inhibited by nickel and by arsenite, but not by luminol. The rejoining of breaks in cells pretreated with MMS plus AraC and HU was inhibited by luminol and by arsenite, but not by nickel. These results suggest that different enzymes may be used in DNA resynthesis and/or ligation during the repairing of UV- and MMS-induced DNA strand breaks, and that nickel, luminol, and arsenite may have differential inhibitory effects on these enzymes. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Efficacy of anticholinergic and beta-adrenergic agonist treatment of maximal cholinergic bronchospasm in tracheally intubated rabbits.

Cholinergically induced bronchoconstriction is thought to be a major cause of bronchospasm during anesthesia. We used tracheally intubated rabbits (4-mm endotracheal tube) stimulated with methacholine to assess the efficacy of beta-adrenergic agonist and anticholinergic treatment in reversing the increases in respiratory system resistance. Four groups were compared: (a) inhaled metaproterenol, 20 puffs via metered dose inhaler (0.65 mg/puff); (b) inhaled ipratropium bromide, 20 puffs from a metered dose inhaler (18 micrograms/puff); (c) 2 mg of intravenous atropine; and (d) no treatment after methacholine challenge as a control group. Methacholine increased respiratory system resistance from 0.041 +/- 0.001 (mean +/- SEM) to 0.098 +/- 0.006 cm H2O.mL-1.s-1 (P < 0.001). Whereas beta-adrenergic agonist treatment was ineffective in ameliorating bronchoconstriction, inhaled ipratropium bromide and atropine were highly effective, causing an 86%-88% reversal in the methacholine-induced increase in respiratory system resistance. Both these agents were also effective in improving dynamic compliance. We conclude that inhaled ipratropium bromide is effective in treating cholinergic bronchospasm even when administered via a small endotracheal tube and that the beta-adrenergic agonist metaproterenol is ineffective in rabbits in the face of maximal cholinergic stimulation.     

Effect of ethanol on ascorbate release in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of freely moving rats.

An in vivo voltammetry technique was used to monitor the extracellular ascorbate (AA) concentration in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of unanesthetized, freely moving rats. A single injection of ethanol, 1.0 g/kg intraperitoneally (IP), induced a significant increase in extracellular AA concentration in both the nucleus accumbens and striatum. This effect was dose dependent within a dose range from 0.5-2.0 g/kg. 4-Methylpyrazole (50 mg/kg, IP), which inhibits alcoholdehydrogenase, could not prevent the increase in AA concentration, evoked by ethanol. Furthermore, systemic administration of acetaldehyde (20 mg/kg, IP), the main metabolite of ethanol, did not have any effect on the level of AA in the nucleus accumbens or striatum. These results show that ethanol can alter the brain extracellular AA levels and that this effect seems to be attributed to ethanol itself and not to acetaldehyde. Consequently, these results indicate that a role for AA in the action of ethanol in the brain should be considered.     

Three years' experience with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device and Norplant-2 implants: a randomized comparative study

A randomized comparative study of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) and Norplant^R-2 implants was carried out in 200 women for 36 months. Three thousand one hundred woman-months of use were observed with each device. Only one pregnancy occurred in users of LNG-IUD at the 12th month of use. The change in bleeding pattern was the most frequent reason for discontinuation. The discontinuation rate for irregular bleeding with Norplant-2 was 17.3 and 26.8 at 24 and 36 months, respectively, as compared to 3.3 with LNG-IUD at both 24 and 36 months. The differences were statistically significant. Removal for amenorrhea and pain only occurred in acceptors of LNG-IUD. About 20–40% of women using Norplant-2 had prolonged bleeding through 36 months. The percentage of amenorrhea in LNG-IUD was the highest (29.3%) at the end of two years of use. More than 97% of subjects reported satisfaction with the methods used by themselves.

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Resumen Un estudio aleatorizado en el que se comparan los dispositivos intrauterinos que descargan levonorgestrel (LNG-IUD) con los implantes Norplant-2 se realizó en 200 mujeres durante 36 meses. Se observó un período de utilización correspondiente a tres mil cien meses-mujer con cada uno de los dispositivos. Hubo un solo embarazo, en el decimosegundo mes, entre las usuarias de LNG-IUD. La alteración del flujo menstrual fue la razón invocada con mayor frecuencia para el abandono del método. Los porcentajes de abandono por la irregularidad de la menstruación en el caso de los Norplant-2 fue de 17,3 y 26,8 a los 24 y 36 meses, respectivamente, en comparación con 3,3 con los LNG-IUD a los 24 y 36 meses. Estas diferencias son estadísticamente significativas. El retiro por amenorrea y dolores sólo ocurrió entre las mujeres que tenían los LNG-IUD. Los Norplant-2 ocasionaron sangrado prolongado durante los 36 meses estudiados en alrededor del 20 al 40% de las mujeres. El porcentaje de amenorrea con los LNG-IUD llegó al nivel máximo (29,3%) al cabo de dos años de uso. Más del 97% de las mujeres se mostraron satisfechas con los métodos que utilizaban.

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Resumé Une étude randomisée comparant les dispositifs intra-utûrins libérant du lévonorgestrel (LNG-IUD) aux implants Norplant-2 a été effectuée sur 200 femmes pendant 36 mois. On a ainsi observé une période d'utilisation correspondant à trois mille cent mois/femme avec chacun des dispositifs. Une seule grossesse s'est produite, au douzième mois, parmi les utilisatrices de LNG-IUD. L'altération du flux menstruel a été la raison le plus souvent invoquée pour l'abandon de la méthode. Les pourcentages d'abandon du fait de l'irrégularité de la menstruation dans le cas des implants se sont élevés à 17,3 et 26,8 après respectivement 24 et 36 mois, alors qu'ils n'atteignaient que 3,3 pour les LNG-IUD, tant à 24 qu'à 36 mois. Ces différences sont statistiquement significatives. Le retrait à la suite d'aménorrhée et de douleurs n'a été constaté que chez des femmes portant les LNG-IUD. Le Norplant-2 a occasionné des saignements prolongés pendant les 36 mois étudiés chez environ 20 à 40% des femmes. Dans le cas des LNG-IUD, le taux d'aménorrhée était le plus élevé (29,3%) au terme de deux années d'utilisation. Plus de 97% des patientes se sont dites satisfaites de la méthode qu'elles appliquaient.

     

Early experience with laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection

Background: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (LAPR) has not been fully evaluated as a technique in the treatment of rectal and anal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the early experience with laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection at Washington University Medical Center. Methods: A prospective analysis was performed on the first 21 patients undergoing the procedure at Washington University Medical Center. Indications for surgery included rectal cancer (14 patients), anal squamous cell cancer (four patients), inflammatory bowel disease (two patients), and anal melanoma (one patient). Results: The procedure was converted to open procedure in four patients (19%). The mean (±SEM) operative time and blood loss for completed and converted LAPR were 239 ± 11 min and 424 ± 43 ml, respectively. Postoperative hematocrit dropped a mean of 8.3% ± 1.2% SEM; five patients required blood transfusion (24%). Wound complication occurred in four patients (19%; three perineal, one trocar site). Bowel function returned after a mean of 3 days, and mean postoperative hospital stay for the completed LAPR group was 5 days. Mild pain was experienced by 81% of patients (17/21) while 19% (4/21) noted moderate pain, usually of the perineal wound. The mean duration of patient-controlled analgesia use was 2 days. During the 1–44-month follow-up, six patients (29%) died from cancer (stage III or IV at operation) and only one patient developed local recurrence in the pelvis (5%). There were no trocar-site implants of cancer. Furthermore, there was no relationship between prior abdominal operations, the amount of blood loss, postoperative drop of hematocrit, or blood transfusion requirement and the length of hospitalization or complication rates. Conclusion: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection is a feasible alternative to the conventional open technique in both cancer and colitis patients. Received: 23 April 1996/Accepted: 8 July 1996     

开放手术观察腰椎间盘突出症溶核失败45例分析

目的 通过开放手术观察分析椎间盘髓核化学溶解术治疗腰椎间盘突出症失败原因。方法 收集溶核失败的腰椎间盘突出症45例行开放手术治疗。结果 术中见45例硬膜外脂肪完全消失，43例髓核未见溶解，2例髓核溶解呈糊状但未被吸收，21例伴有侧隐窝狭窄，15例突出物与神经根粘连，20例黄韧带增厚，2例椎管骨性狭窄，14例突出物钙化。结论 腰椎间盘突出症病变间隙合并有侧隐窝狭窄、神经根粘连、椎管狭窄、突出物钙化等，不是溶核治疗的适应证。     

合欢皮与山合欢皮氨基酸及微量元素的分析

目的 :探讨山东、湖北合欢皮与山合欢皮的内在质量。方法 :用氨基酸自动分析仪和原子吸收分光光度计对山东、湖北合欢皮与山合欢皮的氨基酸及部分微量元素进行分析。结果 :山东、湖北合欢皮与山合欢皮均含大量人体必需氨基酸和微量元素。结论 :为评价产地对合欢皮质量的影响以及合欢皮与山合欢皮的质量差异提供了依据     

缺血性脑血管病患者的血脂水平

目的分析缺血性脑血管病（ICVD）患者的血脂水平，为今后预防保健及康复干预决策的制定提供依据。方法在佛山市第一人民医院病案数据库中检索1991-2004年诊断为ICVD的病例共2886例，其中2000-2004年ICVD患者共1430例为一亚组，以我院同时期保健科随机选取的400名健康体检人群为对照组，记录血脂情况，进行对照分析。结果血TC、TG和LDL—C水平ICVD患者组明显高于健康体检人群，差异有统计学意义。男女两性血脂水平均随年龄增加而逐渐增高，50岁以上女性血脂水平明显高于同龄组男性。血脂代谢异常患病率随着年代的推移呈逐步上升趋势，总胆固醇从1991—1994年的24．5％到2001-2004年的38．1％（男性）和22．3％到38．5％（女性），且明显高于国内2000-2001年普查人群高脂血症的患病率。结论佛山地区血脂异常是ICVD的重要原因之一。