Human hepatocellular carcinoma tumor xenografts

Castrated or sham-operated male athymic mice were inoculated with cells from the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line PLC/PRF/5. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the number of animals developing tumors, the time to tumor development, or the subsequent rate of increase in either tumor base area or mouse serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration. Androgen receptors were assayed in nuclei obtained from three separate liver cancer cell lines and from normal adult human liver. Similar concentrations, ranging from 235 to 550 fmol/mg DNA, of nuclear androgen receptors were detected in all tissues. Low percentages of androgen receptors were retained on DNA-cellulose. Although the presence of receptors implies the potential for metabolic effects of androgens in normal and malignant liver, our in vivostudies suggest that castration does not alter significantly the growth of liver cancer xenografts in athymic mice.     

Office versus Home-Based Family Therapy for Runaway, Alcohol Abusing Adolescents: Examination of Factors Associated with Treatment Attendance

There is a dearth of research examining treatment engagement and attendance among runaway youth and their families. Such research is needed in order to inform treatment providers on factors associated with engagement and maintenance of these difficult to engage families into counseling. This study examined differential treatment attendance for alcohol abusing runaway youth residing at a local shelter. A traditional office-based family systems approach, Functional Family Therapy (FFT), was compared to a non-traditional, home-based, multi-systemic family therapy approach, Ecologically Based Family Therapy (EBFT). As expected, treatment engagement and attendance was significantly higher for those assigned to EBFT (N = 37) compared to FFT (N = 40). Predictors of treatment attendance (income, family chaos, externalization problems and level of youth substance use) were examined within each treatment modality. Findings suggest that home-based (compared to office-based) treatment modalities may significantly increase treatment attendance and engagement of runaway youth and their families. Non-traditional forms of treatment may need to be considered in order to best meet the needs of highly chaotic and disorganized family systems.     

No Worries, No Cares: An Investigation into Self-Reported "Nondistress" in College Students

An important methodological issue in depressionanalog research is whether individuals who scoreextremely low on self-report measures like the BeckDepression Inventory (BDI) should be included innondepressed control groups. Joiner, Schmidt, and Metalsky(1994) found that college students with BDI scores of 0or 1 evidenced a fake-good test taking style as measuredby the MMPI validity scales. The present study investigated whether very low BDI scores (BDI= 0 or 1; n = 21) might be associated with an elevatedpositive mood state, extreme optimism, positiveattributional style or social desirability. Resultsindicated that the very low scoring BDI subjects scoredhigher on social desirability than the low scoring group(BDI = 2 9, n = 63). Significant differences on mood,symptom and cognitive measures disappeared when social desirability was entered as a covariate.Findings support Kendall, Hollon, Beck, Hammen, andIngram's (1987) recommendation that subjects who score0 or 1 on the BDI should be excluded from a nondepressed control group.     

Esophagogastric decompression and enteral feeding following cholecystectomy: a controlled, randomized prospective trial

One hundred fourteen patients scheduled to undergo elective cholecystectomy were prospectively randomized into one of four treatment groups to study the potential benefits of esophagogastric decompression with and without immediate postoperative enteral nutrition. Group I was the control, and patients received only iv fluids and were allowed to eat as tolerated. Group II patients received iv fluids and esophagogastric decompression. Group III patients received esophagogastric decompression and enteral sterile water through the duodenal feeding lumen. Group IV patients received esophagogastric decompression and infusion of an elemental diet through the feeding lumen. The surgical techniques were standardized for all patients. The results of the study indicated no statistically or clinically significant differences among any of the treatment groups regarding; (1) need for parenteral analgesics or antiemetics, (2) tolerance of regular diet, (3) postoperative day of discharge, and (4) postoperative day that other discharge criteria were met. It is concluded that there is no objective benefit to the routine use of esophagogastric decompression with or without enteral nutrition in elective cholecystectomy patients.     

Functional changes in canine saphenous veins after cryopreservation.

This study was designed to determine the functional characteristics of the endothelium, smooth muscle and nerve terminals of cryopreserved veins. Freshly harvested and cryopreserved canine saphenous veins were cut into rings. In some rings, the endothelium was removed. Cryopreserved veins were stored at -196 degrees C for at least 3 weeks prior to use. All rings contracted in a concentration-dependent manner to depolarization with KCl and to alpha-adrenergic stimulation; the maximal tensions were significantly less in cryopreserved than in freshly harvested veins. Calcium ionophore A23187 caused greater relaxations in rings with than without endothelium in freshly harvested and cryopreserved veins. These relaxations were reduced significantly by methylene blue and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) only in fresh veins. Cocaine-sensitive uptake of H3-norepinephrine was reduced following cryopreservation. Immediately after cryopreservation, the production of prostacyclin was elevated. The calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated production of prostacyclin only in freshly harvested veins. Tissue content of endothelin did not change following cryopreservation. These results suggest that cryopreservation of canine saphenous veins alters nerve terminals and decreases the ability of the smooth muscle to contract. The endothelium releases an endothelium-derived relaxing factor and prostanoids following cryopreservation but the ability to synthesize nitric oxide is probably reduced. These changes following cryopreservation may affect patency of the veins when used as arterial grafts.