Evaluation of CHIP (iproplatin) in recurrent pediatric malignant solid tumors

CHIP (325 mg/M²), a second generation cisplatin derivative, was administered intravenously every 3 weeks to 85 pediatric patients with recurrent sarcomas (19), osteosarcomas (20), neuroblastoma (23), germ cell tumors (10), and other malignant tumors (7). Thirty-eight of them had been previously exposed to cisplatin. Partial remissions were only observed in 3 of 23 (13% SE=7%) patients having neuroblastoma. Severe thrombocytopenia (65%) and neutropenia (35%) were the dose limiting factors.     

Issues surrounding chiropractic fee negotiations in Saskatchewan

Chiropractic fee negotiations in Saskatchewan utilize the Chiropractic Compensation Review Committee with recourse to the Chiropractic Consultation Committee. Health care professionals who practise on a fee for service basis provide the government with a budgetary problem. Although the fees are set, the health care provider can determine his own income by deciding how many visit services he/she wishes to provide. In the fiscal years 1981-82 to 1990-91, chiropractors earned $699.00 per year more than one would expect given the increases in fee schedules. Each chiropractor earned $2,329.00 per year more than was necessary to make up for losses due to inflation. The allegation that unnecessary treatments were performed on patients is countered by analysis of the services per discrete patient values by mode of practice. The increased earnings of chiropractors was accomplished by treating an increasing percentage of the population who sought health care. Comparative information was obtained from the four western provinces.     

肾母细胞瘤和左侧下腔静脉的病例报道，一个具有外科意义的正常变异的常见肿瘤

作者报道1例成功实施了手术切除的右肾肾母细胞瘤病例,术前影像学检查碰巧同时发现下腔静脉走行于左侧。据作者所知,在以前的文献中尚无这两种情况同时发生的报道。在此强调该病的诊断特点和磁共振的价值。作者也回顾了大量静脉畸形的文献和畸形对这些患者实施外科手术的影响。     

Thymidine phosphorylase expression and stromal vascularity in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

AIMS: Periductal angiogenesis in ductal carcinoma in situ is associated with an increased risk of subsequently developing a recurrence. This study aimed to (1) identify the relation between periductal and stromal vascularity and recurrence and (2) determine whether thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is associated with angiogenesis or recurrence in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). METHODS: Twenty cases of DCIS that did not subsequently recur, 20 that developed a subsequent in situ recurrence, and 12 that developed a subsequent invasive recurrence were investigated. Periductal and stromal (hotspot) microvessel density were determined quantitatively using antibodies to CD34 and von Willebrandt factor (vWF). TP expression by DCIS was assessed semiquantitatively using the H score method. RESULTS: Stromal and periductal microvessel density assessed by anti-vWF gave similar mean values, and showed a strong positive correlation. When angiogenesis was assessed with anti-CD34 this association was lost. Not only were the mean values for both types of microvessel density higher than those obtained with anti-vWF, but the periductal microvessel density was significantly greater than the stromal microvessel density. TP expression was associated with stromal microvessel density assessed with anti-vWF, but not with anti-CD34. TP expression was not related to recurrence. No significant difference was identified in TP expression or stromal vascularity in DCIS between cases that recurred as DCIS and those that recurred as invasive carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent in situ or invasive disease after excision of DCIS does not appear to be related to stromal microvessel density or to TP expression by DCIS cells.     

TestPack Chlamydia, a new rapid assay for the direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.

TestPack Chlamydia (Abbott Laboratories) is a rapid enzyme immunoassay for the direct antigen detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical specimens. The assay is self-contained, requires no specialized equipment, and yields results in less than 30 min. The clinical performance of TestPack Chlamydia versus chlamydial cell culture was evaluated with a total of 1,694 paired endocervical specimens. Discordant samples were further investigated by immunofluorescent staining and by Chlamydiazyme immunoassay, with confirmatory procedures. The sensitivity of TestPack Chlamydia with less-than-48-h-old specimens was 76.5%, while culture sensitivity was 86.7%. TestPack Chlamydia specificity was determined to be 99.5%. These results indicate that TestPack Chlamydia is an accurate test for chlamydial infection, with a positive predictive value of 96.2%. This assay is suitable for low-volume chlamydial testing in physician offices, clinics, and smaller laboratories.     

Expression of Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors in colonic mucosa and in colon carcinoma.

AIMS: Signalling through the Wnt pathway is integrally associated with colon carcinogenesis. Although activating mutations in the genes for adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and beta-catenin are clearly associated with colon cancer, less is understood about the role of the upstream secreted ligands (Wnts) and their receptors (frizzled, Fz) in this process. In other systems, increased Wnt signalling has been shown to alter the expression of components of this pathway. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that colon cancer is characterised by aberrant expression of specific Wnt genes and Fz receptors. METHODS: The expression of Wnt genes was assessed by in situ, antisense RNA hybridisation in paraffin wax embedded samples of normal and malignant human colon tissues with probes specific for the individual Wnt genes. The expression of Fz1 and Fz2 was determined by immunoperoxidase based antibody staining on human tissues. RESULTS: Changes in the expression of some ligands and receptors were seen in colon cancer. For example, Wnt2 mRNA was detected in colon cancer but was undetectable in normal colonic mucosa. Differential expression of Wnt5a in normal mucosa was also noted, with increased expression at the base of the crypts compared with the luminal villi and slightly increased expression in colon cancer. Wnt7a exhibited minimal expression in both normal and malignant colon tissues, whereas other Wnt ligands including Wnts 1, 4, 5b, 6, 7b, and 10b were expressed equally and strongly in both normal and malignant colon tissues. In defining cellular responses and phenotype, the type and distribution of Fz receptors may be as important as the pattern of Wnt ligand expression. No expression of Fz receptor 1 and 2 was seen in normal colonic mucosa and in well differentiated tumours. However, poorly differentiated tumours exhibited a high degree of Fz receptor expression, especially at the margin of cellular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the expression of members of the Wnt signal transduction pathway, distinct from APC and beta-catenin, is integrally associated with the process of colon carcinogenesis. Wnt2, and possibly Wnt5a, may be involved in the progression from normal mucosa to cancer and the expression of Fz1/2 receptors may be involved in processes associated with tumour invasion. Altered expression of these Wnts and Fz receptors may prove useful as prognostic or diagnostic markers for patients with colon cancer.     

Effects of phenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol,and pentachlorophenol on embryo,larval, and early-juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Embryos of fathead minnows were more resistant to phenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol (2,4-DMP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), and pentachloro-phenol (PCP) than were larval or juvenile life stages. Growth of 28-day-old fish was the most sensitive indicator of stress during exposures to phenol, 2,4-DMP, and PCP, whereas survival was the most sensitive indicator of toxic effects from 2,4-DCP exposure. Based on these effects, the estimated maximum acceptable toxicant concentration for fathead minnows in Lake Superior water lies between 1,830 and 3,570g/L for phenol; 1,970 and 3,110g/L for 2,4-DMP; 290 and 460g/L for 2,4-DCP; and 44.9 and 73.0g/L for PCP.     

The immobilization response in rhesus monkey: a behavioral and electroencephalographic study.

Rhesus monkeys maintained in individual cages are rarely inactive when observed by humans unfamiliar to them. It has been observed that these animals display a greatly reduced behavioral repertoire after they are transferred to primate chairs. The present study used systemic behavioral observations to document those changes and to examine additional changes produced by arm restraint. Chair restraint was associated with a reduction in activity which was intensified when animals were further immobilized by arm restraint. This immobilization produced a reduction of tone in all limbs, a reduction of spontaneous behavior, and the appearance of eye closure. Electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of the behavioral changes were examined also, using quantitative data generated through power spectral analysis of sensorimotor cortical EEG signals. Immobilization was accompanied by a significant increase in spectral density at 12 to 15 Hz which was most marked at mid and far lateral rholandic recording sites. No other significant changes were seen in the frequency bands studied. When the immobilized animal was alerted with novel stimuli, lower frequencies were attenuated but 12- to 15-Hz activity remained enhanced. These findings indicate that a unique immobilization response is elicited by restraint in the rhesus monkey which is associated with discrete changes in both behavior and accompanying EEG patterns.