Ethanol regulated preference in rats

A series of experiments evaluated the determinants of preference for mixtures of ethanol plus sucrose relative to sucrose in rats. One dipper served 10% ethanol mixed with 10% sucrose, and the second dipper served 10% sucrose. Lever presses operated each dipper according to a variable-interval 5-s schedule. In three experiments the subjects were given pre-session meals of sucrose (2.5–20 ml) or sucrose (20 ml) plus chow (5 or 10 g). Pre-session meals decreased responding maintained by sucrose but not responding maintained by ethanol mixture. In two experiments body weight was varied from 85% to 125% of the initial free-feeding values. Increases in body weight, like pre-session meals, decreased responding reinforced by sucrose, but typically did not decrease responding reinforced by ethanol mixture. Throughout most of the study, ethanol consumption remained at about 1.25 ml per half hour session (3–4 g/kg per 30 min). For example, pre-session access to ethanol mixture decreased within-session ethanol consumption, but total consumption, counting both sources, remained about 1.25 ml/session. The within-session patterns of responding also differed. Responding reinforced by ethanol mix decreased as a function of ethanol consumption, whereas responding reinforced by sucrose was relatively constant throughout the session. The simplest explanation of the results is that ethanol's pharmacological consequences regulated preference.     

Radiographic changes induced after cervical facet radiofrequency denervation

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Paraspinal infections after zygapophyseal (facet) radiofrequency denervation (RFD) are a serious but rare complication of this procedure. We are aware of only one case report of an epidural abscess after facet joint injection. PURPOSE: To report post-procedure inflammatory changes after cervical facet RFD. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. PATIENT SAMPLE: A 35-year-old Caucasian female. METHODS: Retrospective case review. RESULTS: The patient underwent cervical RFD and was admitted to the hospital 7 days after her procedure with severe neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast revealed what appeared to be evidence of a paraspinal muscle abscess although blood tests were negative. She was treated with antibiotic therapy, yet she never developed systemic signs of infection. A follow-up MRI without contrast revealed no evidence of infection, and she was discharged home on hospital day 6. At her first follow-up visit, she was still experiencing scalp pain and paraspinal muscle spasm. During subsequent follow-up visits, she has continued to improve clinically without experiencing signs of infection. Another follow-up MRI 6 weeks after her discharge home revealed persistent minimal left paraspinal enhancement at C2-3, possibly representing post-procedure granulation tissue with no evidence of abscess. CONCLUSIONS: Post-procedural MRI findings after radiofrequency lesioning can resemble radiographic findings associated with a paraspinal abscess. Patients with radiographic findings consistent with abscess should only be treated if clinical signs or symptoms of systemic infection are present.     

Detection of thiopurine s-methyltransferase mutations by template directed determinator in incorporation with fluorescence polarization （TDI-FP）

Objective: To develop a new method for the detection of TPMT gene mutations and determine the frequencies of four TPMT alleles, TPMT^*1,^*3A,^*3B and ^*3C in a healthy Chinese population. Methods:A TDI-FP assay system was set up in out lab. To evaluate this system, 220 healthy individuals were analyzed for the polymorphic sites at positions 460 (G→A)and 719 (A→G)of the TPMP gene using our new TDI FP method. Results:Three TPMP *3C(G^460→G^719) heterozygotes were identified, TPMP ^*3A and TPMP ^*3B were not found. All mutations were confirmed by conventional DNA sequencing analysis. Conclusion:TDI-FP method has proven to be very efficient as a rapid and accurate approach for TPMP genotyping. TPMP ^*3C was the only polymorphism identified in this clinical samples we have registered.     

Inhibiting effect of antisense hTRT on telomerase activity of human liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721

Objective: To induce changes in biological character of human liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 by blocking the expression of telomerase genes hTRT and to explore its value in cancer gene therapy. Methods: The vehicle for eukaryotic expression of antisense hTRT was constructed and then transfected into SMMC-7721 cells. The effects of antisense hTRT gene on telomerase activity, cancer cell growth and malignant phenotypes were analyzed. Results: The obtained transfectants that could express antisense hTRT gene stably showed marked decrease in telomerase activity;the shortening of telomere was obvious; cells presented contact growth inhibition; in nude mice transplantation, the rate of tumor induction dramatically decreased. Conclusion : Antisense hTRT gene expression can significantly inhibit telomerase activity of cancer cells and decrease malignant phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, as a telomerase inhibitor, antisense hTRT gene may be a new pathway for cancer therapy.     

The Nursing Outcomes Classification: Validation by Rehabilitation Nurses

Measuring patient outcomes is important to rehabilitation nurses and the patients they serve. This article describes research conducted at the University of Iowa College of Nursing to develop the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) and the validation of this research by surveys conducted through specialty nursing organizations, particularly the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. Nurses responded to surveys designed to validate (a) the importance of outcome indicators to the achievement of an outcome and (b) nursing's contribution to the achievement of the indicators. The results of the surveys indicated that rehabilitation nurses believe that nursing makes a substantial contribution to most outcomes and indicators.