外环境湿度和换气次数对独立通风笼盒微环境湿度和氨浓度的影响

目的：评估在独立通风笼盒（IVC）所处环境不同湿度条件下,IVC 不同换气次数时,大、小鼠 IVC 微环境湿度和氨浓度的变化。方法屏障环境内,以7 d 为换笼周期,分别设定室内环境低湿（40％）、中湿（50％）、高湿（60％）,IVC 换气次数为40次/h、60次/h 时,对3个品牌大、小鼠 IVC 微环境进行测定,观察笼盒内湿度和氨浓度的变化。结果当室内环境为低湿条件,小鼠和大鼠 IVC 换气次数设置为40次/h 时;当室内环境为中湿条件,小鼠换气次数设置为40次/h、大鼠换气次数设置为60次/h 时;当室内环境为高湿条件,小鼠换气次数设置为60次/h 时,笼盒内微环境均基本能够满足 GB14925-2010对湿度和氨浓度的要求。而在高湿情况下,即使大鼠 IVC换气次数置为60次/h 也不能满足要求。结论室内环境湿度和 IVC 换气次数是影响 IVC 微环境的关键指标,只有依据室内环境条件合理设置 IVC 换气次数才能较好地维护 IVC 微环境和达到有效管理的目的。     

长爪沙鼠发情周期规律与判定方法

目的 研究长爪沙鼠发情周期,揭示发情规律,优化判定方法。方法 连续18 d采集50只长爪沙鼠阴道上皮脱落细胞涂片,采用角化细胞计数法研究长爪沙鼠发情周期规律。比较瑞氏染色、HE染色和直接镜检判定发情周期4个时相的优缺点。结果 长爪沙鼠的发情周期有稳定型、不稳定型、假孕三种类型。其中稳定型占68.6%,发情周期为（106.3±35.0）h,可分为4个时相。4个时相角化细胞的比例分别为发情前期（13.5±7.8）%、发情期（86.7±9.9）%、发情后期（27.9±12.8）% 和发情间期（3.3±2.8）%。结论 角化细胞计数能准确地判定长爪沙鼠的发情周期及各个时相。直接镜检法能快速反映阴道脱落细胞的形态。     

A clinical study assessing the tolerability and biological effects of infliximab, a TNF-alpha inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important regulator of the chronic inflammation contributing to tumour progression. Infliximab, an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody was investigated in this trial of patients with advanced cancer. The primary objectives were to determine the safety profile and biological response of infliximab in a cancer population. Clinical response was a secondary objective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients received infliximab at 5 mg/kg (n = 21) or 10 mg/kg (n = 20) i.v. at 0 and 2 weeks and then every 4 weeks. Post-treatment samples were measured for changes in plasma and serum TNF-alpha, CCL2, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Infliximab was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxic effects. At both doses of infliximab, neutralisation of serum TNF-alpha was observed after 1 h while plasma CCL2, IL-6 and serum CRP were decreased 24 and 48 h following infliximab administration. Seven patients experienced disease stablisation (range 10-50+ weeks). There was no evidence of disease acceleration in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab treatment was safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced cancer. There was evidence of biological activity with baseline TNF-alpha and CCL2 being correlated with infliximab response.     

Randomized controlled trial of dexamethasone treatment in very-low-birth-weight infants with ventilator-dependent chronic lung disease

This randomized controlled trial was designed to answer the question: does administration of dexamethasone to neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia decrease the need for assisted ventilation? Twenty-five infants with a birth weight < 1501 g, requiring mechanical ventilation and FiO₂ of ± 0.30 at 21-35 days of age, were randomized to treatment with iv dexamethasone or to sham injections for 12 days. The primary outcome criterion was extubation within seven days after study entry. Treatment (n= 12) and control (n= 13) groups were well matched at entry. Dexamethasone facilitated weaning from assisted ventilation (p= 0.0154). There was no increased incidence of infection. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in a significant increase in glucosuria (p= 0.0002) and in systolic blood pressure (p= 0.0034). There was a significant decrease in heart rate (p= 0.0001) and a significant weight loss (p= 0.0002) following dexamethasone treatment. Dexamethasone treatment facilitated weaning from assisted ventilation but several systemic effects were noted that deserve further evaluation before dexamethasone becomes routine treatment.     

Primary osteosarcoma of the skull

Primary osteogenic sarcoma of the skull is an exceedingly rare condition. An adult male patient is described, who had a painless swelling in the right forehead that had rapidly enlarged in the previous 6 months. Radiological investigations showed a large destructive mass lesion involving the right side of the frontal bone with extension into the frontal sinus, causing marked extradural compression of brain parenchyma. Histopathological examination confirmed the lesion to be primary osteogenic sarcoma.     

HIV-1tat induced apoptosis of T-cells is not mediated by TGF-β

Recent reports have demonstrated that the HIV-1 transactivator protein,tat, induces apoptosis in T-lymphocyte cell lines, as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and stimulates a cascade of events resulting in up-regulation of the potent immunosuppressive cytokine, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). In this study we evaluated the ability of TGF-β to mediatetat induced apoptosis in T-lymphocyte cell lines. T-cells treated exogenously with either TGF-β1 or a combination of tat and pan-specific TGF-β neutralizing antibodies showed little change in the amount of apoptosis. When treated with pan-specific TGF-β neutralizing antibodies, Jurkat cells that stably expresstat protein (Jurkat-tat) showed only a modest decrease in apoptosis, while CEM-TART cells (CEM T-cells expressing both HIV-1tat andrev) demonstrated little change in the amount of apoptosis. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that TGF-β does not play a significant role in mediatingtat induced T-cell apoptosis.     

Emergencies in adolescents: management guidelines for four presentations

The cases presented in this article are representative of adolescent emergencies that may be encountered by the office practitioner. Many more examples in the area of adolescent gynecology could have been presented, including ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease. Substance abuse issues will be addressed in the second part of this topic, which will be published in the December 2005 issue of Pediatric Annals. Consultation with an adolescent medicine specialist is always recommended for challenging cases.     

The effects of an oestrogen-free, desogestrel-containing oral contraceptive in women with cyclical symptoms: results from two studies on oestrogen-related symptoms and dysmenorrhoea.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of an oestrogen-free oral contraceptive (Cerazette; 75 mcg/day desogestrel) in women with oestrogen-related symptoms during previous combined oral contraceptive (COC) use (ERS study) and in women with dysmenorrhoea (DYS study). METHODS: Two similarly designed prospective, non-comparative multicentre observational studies were carried out in Germany. Altogether, 403 women with oestrogen-related symptoms during previous COC use and 406 women with dysmenorrhoea took Cerazette continuously. Symptom-related assessments were made at baseline and after 3-4 months, along with bleeding pattern and treatment satisfaction. RESULTS: In the ERS study, the four oestrogen-related symptoms studied resolved or improved in over 70% of women. Nausea improved/resolved most (92% of women), followed by breast tenderness (90%), oestrogen-related headache (84%) and oedema (74%). In the DYS study, dysmenorrhoea resolved or considerably improved in 93% of the study population. Correspondingly, use of analgesics dropped from 70% of women at baseline to 8% at study end. Adverse events were reported by 7-8% of both study populations and were mainly bleeding irregularities. Most women in both studies were satisfied with treatment (approximately 90%) and wished to continue treatment after study completion (approximately 85%). CONCLUSIONS: Cerazette in this study set-up improved oestrogen-related symptoms and dysmenorrhoea in women affected and treatment was well accepted.