The impact of partial termination of food subsidy programme on food consumption pattern.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the public opinion towards the possible replacement of ration cards by cash payment and to investigate the effect of partial termination of food price subsidy programme on food consumption by families from different income brackets. A purposive sample of 300 families from Alexandria Governorates were interviewed to assess the attitude of the consumer towards the possible termination of current food subsidy programme. After one year, during which the subsidy programme was reduced, a follow up sample of 240 were interviewed. The results show that a large proportion of the families prefer the continuation of the current programme (80-81.2%), meanwhile, around 90% of them believed that subsidized foods do not reach the target group. The data show that subsidized meat and poultry are consumed by high income families while frozen subsidized fish was mostly consumed by poor families. The partial termination of the subsidy programme forced the families to reduce their consumption from sugar, tea, oil, and rice. During the second phase of the study. However the results show that high income families were least affected by the partial termination of the subsidy programme.     

脑膜瘤生物学特性的研究——流式细胞计对脑膜瘤DNA含量的分析及其生物学行为的相关研究

为了定量测试脑膜瘤WHO分级法的价值,作者应用倍体分类、增殖指数和S期细胞比率三项参数进行分析,发现这三项指标与WHO分级密切相关。脑膜瘤异形细胞、坏死、核分裂及脑浸润的出现与肿瘤WHO分级增加和肿瘤复发密切相关。这些结果特别对肿瘤的异质性和测量技术差异问题给予小心评价。     

Clinical experience with alpha-particle emitting 211At: treatment of recurrent brain tumor patients with 211At-labeled chimeric antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6.

alpha-Particle-emitting radionuclides, such as (211)At, with a 7.2-h half-life, may be optimally suited for the molecularly targeted radiotherapy of strategically sensitive tumor sites, such as those in the central nervous system. Because of the much shorter range and more potent cytotoxicity of alpha-particles than of beta-particles, (211)At-labeled agents may be ideal for the eradication of tumor cells remaining after surgical debulking of malignant brain tumors. The main goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of this approach in patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors. METHODS: Chimeric antitenascin monoclonal antibody 81C6 (ch81C6) (10 mg) was labeled with 71-347 MBq of (211)At by use of N-succinimidyl 3-[(211)At]astatobenzoate. Eighteen patients were treated with (211)At-labeled ch81C6 ((211)At-ch81C6) administered into a surgically created resection cavity (SCRC) and then with salvage chemotherapy. Serial gamma-camera imaging and blood sampling over 24 h were performed. RESULTS: A total of 96.7% +/- 3.6% (mean +/- SD) of (211)At decays occurred in the SCRC, and the mean blood-pool percentage injected dose was < or = 0.3. No patient experienced dose-limiting toxicity, and the maximum tolerated dose was not identified. Six patients experienced grade 2 neurotoxicity within 6 wk of (211)At-ch81C6 administration; this neurotoxicity resolved fully in all but 1 patient. No toxicities of grade 3 or higher were attributable to the treatment. No patient required repeat surgery for radionecrosis. The median survival times for all patients, those with glioblastoma multiforme, and those with anaplastic astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma were 54, 52, and 116 wk, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides proof of concept for regional targeted radiotherapy with (211)At-labeled molecules in oncology. Specifically, the regional administration of (211)At-ch81C6 is feasible, safe, and associated with a promising antitumor benefit in patients with malignant central nervous system tumors.     

Burns during pregnancy: a gloomy outcome

The effect of burns on fetal and maternal survival is known to be detrimental. This prospective study describes the performance of pregnant burned patients who were managed and followed up for fetal and maternal outcomes at Ain Shams University's burn unit and Maternity Hospital during the period from October 1995 to September 1996. During the 12-month period, 27 pregnant burned patients were managed. Fetal and maternal mortality correlated with the total body surface area (TBSA) burned, the mortality rate being 63 per cent for both mothers and fetuses in the 25–50 per cent TBSA group. A fetal loss of 56 per cent with no maternal loss were recorded in the 15–25 per cent TBSA group. Experience in dealing with pregnant burned patients proves that early surgical excision and skin grafting, with timely termination of pregnancy are the best lines of treatment. Prevention or minimizing the effects of the burns may be achieved by proper education and guidance of the pregnant woman.     

Coronary reperfusion with a new catheter in six patients with acute occlusion after angioplasty

A new catheter was used in an attempt to re-establish coronary flow in six patients with acute occlusion after angioplasty and prior to emergency coronary artery bypass surgery. All patients suffered from severe chest pain, and the electrocardiogram showed signs of acute transmural ischemia. A reperfusion catheter manufactured by Advanced Cardiovascular Systems (ACS) has 36 side holes spirally arranged along the distal 10 cm. It is introduced over an exchange wire. After the catheter was positioned across the occlusion, five patients had complete relief of chest pain, and another patient had partial relief. The electrocardiogram normalized in all six patients (in one only initially). Two patients developed a limited myocardial infarction, but four did not. The time between introduction of the reperfusion catheter and aorta cross clamping varied between 1.5 and 6.5 hours, and there were no complications related to its use. We conclude that the ACS reperfusion catheter is useful in re-establishing coronary blood flow after failed angioplasty and prior to emergency coronary artery bypass surgery.     

Morphological study of some hypothalamic centers in rats after deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus

The volume of the nuclei and nucleoli of certain hypothalamic centers (SON, PVN, SCN, AN, VMN) was determined in control rats and in rats after deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus. Sex differences were found in the parvocellular formations of the control animals: The volumes of nuclei and nucleoli of neurons of AN and VMN, and also of the nucleolus of SCN neurons were larger in females than in males. After deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus the volume of the cell nuclei was increased, especially in hypothalamic formations located outside the isolated zone. This increase was more clearly defined in rats constantly in a state of estrus after the operation. Statistically significant differences between volumes of both nuclei and nucleoli of the cells in subgroups of rats with permanent estrus and with permanent diestrus were found only in the case of SCN. No such differences were found for AN, despite the considerable difference in the constant of luteinizing hormone in the pituitary of the same rats. It is suggested that gonadotropin releasing factors are not produced by the cells of AN and that control over the succession of phases of the sex cycle may be exerted by SCN.Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Chernigovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 352–354, March, 1980.     

E-selectin S128R polymorphism and severe coronary artery disease in Arabs

Background  

The E-selectin p. S128R (g. A561C) polymorphism has been associated with the presence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in some populations, but no data is currently available on its association with CAD in Arabs.