Types of mesenchymal reactions in the carcinoma of uterine cervix.

In the cervical cancer stroma three essential types of mesenchymal reaction: myxoid, fibrogenic with angioplasia and fibroblastic low-differentiated were disclosed. The border membrane of cancer foci is composed of fibroblast layer and ground substance abundant in Ac-MPS of the hyaluronic acid type. This substance is the basal immunosuppressive factor of cancer cells in situ (TIS). Similar activity is exhibited by the pathologic mesenchymal proteins of fibrynoid and hyaline type. The level of chemical differentiation of the mesenchyma, changes according to the maturity of cellular factor in connective tissue. Ac-MPS of the hyaluronic acid type prevail in the ground substance of the myxoid and fibroblastic mesenchyma, while the substances containing sulfuric groups predominate in the tissue matrix exhibiting fibrogenic tendencies.     

Mutual interaction between adjacent dG . dC actinomycin binding sites and dA . dT netropsin binding sites on the self-complementary d(C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G) duplex in solution.

The Watson-Crick imino protons, the backbone phosphodiester resonances, and the antibiotic exchangeable protons have been used as markers to monitor the separate and simultaneous binding of actinomycin and netropsin to the d(C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G) self-complementary duplex in aqueous solution. We demonstrate that intercalation of actinomycin at dG(3'-5')dC sites at either end of the duplex results in a conformational perturbation at the dA . dT tetranucleotide core of the dodecanucleotide duplex. Parallel studies of the groove binding of netropsin at dA . dT sites in the interior of the duplex reveal a conformational perturbation which extends to adjacent dG . dC base pairs in the dodecanucleotide duplex. The NMR markers demonstrate that the d(C-G-C-G-A-A-T-T-C-G-C-G) duplex can accommodate actinomycin and netropsin simultaneously at adjacent dG . dC and dA . dT tetranucleotide blocks along its length with some mutual interaction between neighboring antibiotic binding sites.     

Hydrogen bonding, overlap geometry, and sequence specificity in anthracycline antitumor antibiotic.DNA complexes in solution.

We have deduced structural aspects of the intercalation complex of the anthracycline antitumor antibiotic daunomycin and its analogs with the synthetic DNA poly(dA-dT) by 1H and 31P NMR in high-salt solution. We demonstrate that the base pairs are intact at the antibiotic binding site and that the anthracycline phenolic hydroxyls form intramolecular hydrogen bonds with the quinone carbonyls and are shielded from solvent in the intercalation complex. The complexation shifts of the exchangeable phenolic and nonexchangeable aromatic protons demonstrate that rings B and C of the anthracycline chromophore overlap with adjacent base pairs, while anthracycline ring D passes right through the intercalation site in the complex. We observe two resolved 31P resonances attributable to the dA-dT and dT-dA phosphodiester linkages in the phosphorus spectra of the neighbor-exclusion daunomycin.poly(dA-dT) complex. This suggests that the anthracycline antitumor antibiotic exhibits a sequence specificity in its intercalation complex with alternating purine-pyrimidine synthetic DNAs in solution. These conclusions on hydrogen bonding and overlap geometry at the intercalation site and sequence specificity for the daunomycin.poly(dA-dT) complex in solution are in agreement with the structure of the daunomycin.dC-dG-dT-dA-dC-dG hexanucleotide duplex crystalline complex at atomic resolution published recently [Quigley, G. J., Wang, A. H.-J., Ughetto, G., van der Marel, G., van Boom, J. H. & Rich, A. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 7204-7208].     

Gender differences in symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders in toddlers

Gender differences in symptoms representing the triad of impairments of Autism Spectrum Disorders remain unclear. To date, the majority of research conducted on this topic has utilized samples of older children. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to utilize a sample of toddlers to investigate gender differences in symptom endorsements of ASD. Also, deficits in areas such as cognition have been shown to affect gender in this same population (i.e., gender ratios). Therefore, each toddler's level of developmental ability was accounted for in the current study. In this sample of toddlers, gender differences were only found in regards to the restricted interests and repetitive behavior domain, with females with an average Developmental Quotient having significantly fewer endorsements on items related to restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Implications of the findings are discussed.     

A Novel Digital Tourniquet Using a Sterile Glove and Hemostat

Background. Surgery of the digit is facilitated with adequate hemostasis for visualization of the operative field. Several types of tourniquets have been used for this purpose, including glove fingers, Penrose drains, Marmed digital tourniquets, and standard pneumatic tourniquets.
Objective. To present a novel method to achieve hemostasis during surgery of the digit.
Materials. A slightly oversized sterile glove, a hemostat, and a pair of scissors.
Conclusion. We present a novel method to achieve hemostasis using a sterile glove and a hemostat, that allows the surgeon to methodically titrate the amount of compression necessary to attain a bloodless field while minimizing the risks of excessive pressures.
Surgery of the digit is facilitated with adequate hemostasis for visualization of the operative field. Several types of tourniquets have been used for this purpose, including glove fingers, Penrose drains, Marmed digital tourniquets, and standard pneumatic tourniquets. We present a novel method to achieve hemostasis using a sterile glove and a hemostat that allows the surgeon to methodically titrate the amount of compression necessary to attain a bloodless field while minimizing the risks of excessive pressures.     

Hajdu-Cheney syndrome: report of a family and a short literature review

We report three members of an Armenian family with Hajdu-Cheney syndrome. The history suggested that five other members of the family were also probably affected. This disorder is important for the radiologist because distinctive radiographic findings make the diagnosis possible before clinical signs and symptoms are fully developed. Additionally, radiographic examination is essential in all patients suspected of Hajdu-Cheney syndrome for confirmation of the clinical diagnosis. Radiographic examination also detects complications of the syndrome not evident on clinical examination.     

In utero and neonatal sensitivity of ApcMin/+ mice to radiation-induced intestinal neoplasia

PURPOSE: To assess the sensitivity of ApcMin/+ mice (adenomatous polyposis coli Apc, multiple intestinal neoplasia, Min) to the development of intestinal adenomas after x-irradiation in utero, as neonates, or as young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CHB6 ApcMin/+ mice were exposed to an acute dose of 2 Gy x-rays either in utero on day 7 or 14 post-conception, as 2-day or 10-day neonates or as 35-day young adults. Tumour identification and counting was performed 200-214 days later. RESULTS: Irradiation as 10-day-old neonates resulted in a significantly greater overall tumour incidence (average of about 130 tumours per animal) than irradiation as 35-day-old young adults (about 70 tumours). Irradiation as 2-day-old neonates resulted in an intermediate incidence (about 85 tumours). In contrast, the greatest tumour incidence observed after in utero irradiation of ApcMin/+ mice, of about 44 tumours per animal after 2 Gy irradiation at 14 days post-conception, was significantly lower than the incidence in irradiated adults. Tumour incidences after irradiation as 7-day embryos was not significantly raised above numbers in unirradiated controls (about 30 tumours). These tumour numbers include cystic crypts, largely radiation-induced, which were classed as early stage microadenomas on the basis of loss of wild-type Apc+ and expression of beta-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of ApcMin/+ mice to the induction of intestinal tumours by radiation was shown to be in the order: 10 d neonates>2 d neonates>35 d young adults>14 d fetus>7 d embryo.     

Cyclosporin A treatment of an induced attack in a chronic relapsing model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in 8-week-old SJL/J mice by injecting an encephalitogenic emulsion on Day 0 and Day 7. A third injection was given on Day 70 postinoculation (PI) which precipitated an attack with high mortality (62%) after 7-9 days. Cyclosporin A (CsA) was given at doses of 5, 2, and 0.5 mg per mouse, one or three times per week starting from Day 40 PI and continuing over the next 17 days. High serum levels of CsA were measured by radioimmunoassay. However, gross and microscopic pathological examination showed no indication of hepatic or renal toxicity at these doses. In the CsA-treated mice, there was a dose-dependent shortening of the length and severity of the attack forced by challenge with the third injection. The mortality was significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced when compared with the non-CsA-treated controls. In addition, the data demonstrate a decrease of lymphocyte-derived chemotactic factor produced from phytohemagglutinin-stimulated spleen cells of mice with chronic relapsing EAE treated with CsA when compared to normal mice and mice with chronic relapsing EAE treated with vehicle alone. We conclude that it is possible to effect an induced acute attack in ongoing chronic relapsing EAE with CsA treatment.     

Direct‐acting antivirals are effective and safe in HCV/HIV‐coinfected liver transplant recipients who experience recurrence of hepatitis C: A prospective nationwide cohort study

Direct‐acting antivirals have proved to be highly efficacious and safe in monoinfected liver transplant (LT) recipients who experience recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, there is a lack of data on effectiveness and tolerability of these regimens in HCV/HIV‐coinfected patients who experience recurrence of HCV infection after LT. In this prospective, multicenter cohort study, the outcomes of 47 HCV/HIV‐coinfected LT patients who received DAA therapy (with or without ribavirin [RBV]) were compared with those of a matched cohort of 148 HCV‐monoinfected LT recipients who received similar treatment. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. HCV/HIV‐coinfected patients had a median (IQR) CD4 T‐cell count of 366 (256‐467) cells/µL. HIV‐RNA was <50 copies/mL in 96% of patients. The DAA regimens administered were SOF + LDV ± RBV (34%), SOF + SMV ± RBV (31%), SOF + DCV ± RBV (27%), SMV + DCV ± RBV (5%), and 3D (3%), with no differences between the groups. Treatment was well tolerated in both groups. Rates of SVR (negative serum HCV‐RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment) were high and similar for coinfected and monoinfected patients (95% and 94%, respectively; P = .239). Albeit not significant, a trend toward lower SVR rates among patients with advanced fibrosis (P = .093) and genotype 4 (P = .088) was observed. In conclusion, interferon‐free regimens with DAAs for post‐LT recurrence of HCV infection in HIV‐infected individuals were highly effective and well tolerated, with results comparable to those of HCV‐monoinfected patients.