miR-10a is aberrantly overexpressed in Nucleophosmin1 mutated acute myeloid leukaemia and its suppression induces cell death

Background

Semaphorins act as chemotactic cues for cell movement via their transmembrane receptors, plexins. Somatic missense mutations in the plexinB1 gene coupled with overexpression of the protein frequently occur in prostate tumours, indicating a role for plexinB1 in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.

Results

Two specific mutations found in prostate cancer enhance RhoD binding and one other mutation results in loss of inhibition of Rac-dependent Pak1 phosphorylation and lamellipodia formation and in impairment of trafficking of plexinB1 to the membrane. None of the three characterised mutations affect PDZRhoGEF binding, RhoA activity, the interaction of plexinB1with the oncogenes ErbB2 or c-Met or ErbB2 phosphorylation. The mutations have the net effect of increasing cell motility by blocking plexinB1-mediated inhibition of Rac while enhancing the interaction with RhoD, an anti-migratory factor.

Conclusions

PlexinB1 mutations block plexinB1-mediated signalling pathways that inhibit cell motility.     

Contrast medium precipitation during abdominal CT

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans of 55 patients who had ingested Gastrografin (meglumine diatrizoate and diatrizoate sodium) diluted to 2% with tap water and flavored with a commercial fruit juice base were reviewed. Twenty patients (36%) demonstrated intraluminal precipitation of Gastrografin shown by focal areas of markedly increased attenuation within the gastric lumen or trapped within gastric folds. Beam-hardening artifact produced by precipitation was observed, which limited the diagnostic value of some examinations. In vitro CT scans of the same Gastrografin solution titrated with hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide showed that by raising the pH of the solution, precipitation was virtually eliminated. Fifty-one CT scans of the abdomen using a buffered Gastrografin solution demonstrated precipitation in only five patients. Properly buffered dilute oral Gastrografin solutions should significantly decrease the prevalence of precipitation during abdominal CT examinations.     

Synergism of atenoloi and nitrendipine on hemodynamic amelioration and organ protection in hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE： This study was designed to investigate the possible synergism of atenolol and nitrendipine on blood pressure （BP） and blood pressure variability （BPV） reductions, baroreflex sensitivity （BRS） amelioration, and organ protection in hypertensive rats. METHOD： The dose was 20 mg/kg for atenolol, 10 mg/kg for nitrendipine and 20 ＋ 10 mg/kg for the combination of these two drugs. In an acute study, a single dose was given via a catheter previously inserted into the stomach in spontaneously hypertensive rats （SHR）.     

缬昔洛韦的合成

目的;对缬昔洛韦的合成进行了研究。方法：以阿昔洛韦和Ｎ－苄氧羰基－Ｌ－缬氨酸为原料,经酰化,催化氢解反应得到了新型抗疱疹毒药物缬昔洛韦。结果;本品的元素分析,红外,质谱及核磁共振图谱数据与文献报道一致,总收率为４５．２％,结论;采用此法合成缬昔洛韦是可行的,适合于工业生产。     

新型全固态阿托品电极的研制

制备了以脲醛树脂为框架,以KCl粉末为活性组分的Ag/AgCl固体电极。以此固体电极为基体,以阿托品—四苯硼酸根离子缔合物为活性物质,研制了一种新型全固态阿托品选择电极。并对此电极的性质进行了研究,结果表明该电极稳定性较好,并能用于硫酸阿托品制剂的含量测定。     

Developing nursing practice as part of the collaborative TB control programme, Tomsk, Siberia.

SETTING: Review of nursing practice, identification of training needs and implementation of training for nurses working in the Tomsk Oblast' Tuberculosis Services (TOTBS), Russia. OBJECTIVE: Preparation of TOTBS nurses for the implementation of a WHO-style TB control programme in January 1997. METHODS: Nursing services and training needs were assessed through observation visits to a number of institutions providing care for TB patients, semi-structured interviews, and discussions at staff meetings. Training sessions focused on the WHO DOTS strategy, patient education and default tracing. An evaluation visit focused on nurses' attitudes and levels of treatment completion. RESULTS: Out of a total of 165 TB cases notified in Tomsk Oblast' between January and March 1997, 53 were started on DOTS on an ambulatory basis. Five patients who defaulted returned to treatment within five days (range 2-5) and no patients were lost to follow up. Improved compliance was attributed to better patient education offered by nurses and a reliable supply of medication. Quarterly reports continue to show satisfactory levels of treatment completion. CONCLUSIONS: Obstacles to the development of nursing practice included resistance to change and low morale due to enormous workloads, no pay and staff shortages. Motivation improved through the setting of achievable targets.     

Asynchronism of the recovery of baroreflex sensitivity, blood pressure, and consciousness from anesthesia in rats

Anesthesia inhibits arterial baroreflex functions such as baroreflex sensitivity （BRS）. The main objective of the present study was to determine the time course of BRS recovery from anesthesia and to determine whether BRS recovery is synchronous with the recovery of consciousness and blood pressure （BP）. Experiments were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats using different commonly used anesthetics at routine doses through intraperitoneal administration： （1） diazepam/ketamine,     

Dietary energy restriction does not inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis by N-nitrosobis-2-(oxopropyl)amine in the Syrian hamster

Dietary energy restriction was previously shown to be effective in preventing a wide range of experimentally induced cancers. Studies were conducted to assess the influence on pancreatic carcinogenesis of dietary energy restrictions (reduced fat and carbohydrate) of 10%, 20% or 40% in comparison with control in Syrian hamsters treated with N- nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP). Two carcinogenesis studies were conducted. One used a single treatment with 20 mg BOP/kg body weight and followed hamsters for 102 weeks following treatment, and the other used three weekly treatments of 20 mg BOP/kg body weight and followed hamsters for 45 weeks after treatment. Hamsters were fed control or energy restricted diet beginning the week following the last BOP treatment. Pancreatic carcinomas were induced in 9-18% of the hamsters in the first experiment and in 59-66% of the animals in the second. Dietary energy restriction did not influence carcinoma incidence in either study, and in the second experiment the multiplicity of tumors was higher in the 40% energy restriction (ER) group than in control hamsters. Plasma corticosterone was suppressed by BOP treatment, particularly in the 20% and 40% ER hamsters in the second experiment, and diet or BOP treatment did not significantly alter plasma cortisol. Pancreatic protein kinase Czeta measured by Western blot was highest in the cytosol and particulate fractions of the 40% ER hamsters in the first experiment. These results indicate that dietary energy restriction is not effective in the prevention of BOP induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in the Syrian hamster.      

Minimizing drug-related harm in Australia-Australia's National Drug Strategy

The article describes the nature, origins and development of Australia's recently announced National Drug Strategy (NDS). The NDS aims to minimize the harmful effects of drugs and drug use in Australian society and covers the period 1993-97. The National Drug Strategic Plan is discussed, and the means by which the NDS will be monitored. The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), the forerunner to the NDS, is reviewed in terms of its major achievements. The Campaign was particularly successful in raising the policy profile of alcohol and tobacco, the drugs causing the most harm in Australian society. The relationship between the latest evaluation of NCADA and the NDS is also described.