Is there a role for Notch signalling in human breast cancer?

Aberrant Notch signalling has been observed in several human cancers, including acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia and cervical cancer, and is strongly implicated in tumourigenesis. Unregulated Notch signalling in the mouse mammary gland leads to tumour formation. These results raise the possibility that Notch signalling might play a role in human breast cancer. There are currently few reports that address this question directly and this appears to be an area worthy of further investigation.     

医院感染耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌与oprD_2基因相关的ERIC分型研究

目的 探究耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌(IRPA)的oprD2基因缺失在天津地区3所三甲医院内的分布以及该菌的克隆流行情况.方法 采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法检测60株IRPA的oprD2基因缺失情况,并以基于肠杆菌科基因间重复一致序列PCR(ERIC-PCR)方法对其中的54株进行分子生物学分型.结果 60株IRPA中有38株oprD2基因缺失.且3所医院的oprD2基因缺失率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),54株IRPA用ERICPCR方法分为30型.结论 IRPA的oprD2基因缺失在天津地区的分布差异无统计学意义,且提示尚有其他原因造成亚胺堵南/西司他丁耐药株流行;个别科室内的IRPA存在克隆流行趋势,应注意监控IRPA在医院内的暴发流行.     

Resistance of Copenhagen rats to chemical induction of glutathione S- transferase 7-7-positive liver foci

Copenhagen (Cop) rats are completely resistant to the chemical induction of mammary adenocarcinomas, but their susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis is virtually unknown. Rat liver is a well- characterized and easily manipulated tissue in which to study carcinogenesis. Therefore, if Cop rats are resistant to hepatocarcinogenesis, studies into resistance mechanisms may be feasible. Male Cop and F344 rats, 7-8 weeks old, were initiated using either N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) (200 mg/kg, i.p.) or a two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) followed by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) (60 mg/kg, i.p.). The rats were then promoted using a modified resistant hepatocyte (RH) protocol (a combination of four doses of 2- acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and a single dose of CCl4 that provides a selective mitotic stimulus for initiated cells). Six weeks after initiation the rats were killed and liver sections were stained for glutathione S-transferase 7-7 (GST 7-7), a marker for putative preneoplastic hepatocytes. Cop rats were found to be highly resistant, having a approximately 9- and approximately 27-fold smaller percentage of liver area occupied by GST 7-7-positive foci than susceptible F344 rats following initiation by DEN and MNU respectively. Furthermore, gross liver nodules did not form in any of the Cop rats, whereas all F344 rat livers contained nodules. Hepatic necrosis caused by DEN during initiation, and CCl4 during promotion is necessary to stimulate compensatory hepatocyte division. We demonstrated that these agents do indeed increase serum transaminase levels and produce histologic evidence of necrosis in Cop rats. In order for liver foci to grow rapidly in the RH protocol, the surrounding normal hepatocytes must be mito-inhibited by 2-AAF. We found that the degree of mito-inhibition of normal hepatocytes by 2-AAF is the same in Cop and F344 rats. These results show that the Cop rat is highly resistant to the chemical induction of putative preneoplastic liver foci and nodules.      

Italian multicentre study on very low-birth-weight babies. Neonatal mortality and two-year outcome

The Italian multicentre study on very low-birth-weight babies is the first collaborative project in Italy on the health status of newborns weighing 500–1499 g at birth: 634 such babies were admitted in 1987–88 to eight Italian NICUs; 424 infants survived and were followed until two years of age, corrected for prematurity. Logistic regression analysis of pre-admission risk factors of in-hospital mortality identified eight statistically significant variables: birth weight, gestational age, sex, antepartum steroids, I-min Apgar score and, on admission to the NICU, body temperature, pH and absence of spontaneous respiration. Using the equation derived from the logistic model, a theoretical mortality rate was calculated for each centre, predicted on the basis of the local incidence of preadmission risk factors. In no case was the predicted mortality significantly different from the observed one. At two years of age, 8 children were blind and 48 had motor disability. Of these, 46 had cerebral palsy: based on a functional evaluation score 14 had severe (degree 4), 20 intermediate (degree 3) and 12 mild cerebral palsy (degree 2). Among 25 variables entered in a logistic regression as risk factors for cerebral palsy, only periventricular leucomalacia and acidosis were significantly associated with the outcome.     

A Novel Digital Tourniquet Using a Sterile Glove and Hemostat

Background. Surgery of the digit is facilitated with adequate hemostasis for visualization of the operative field. Several types of tourniquets have been used for this purpose, including glove fingers, Penrose drains, Marmed digital tourniquets, and standard pneumatic tourniquets.
Objective. To present a novel method to achieve hemostasis during surgery of the digit.
Materials. A slightly oversized sterile glove, a hemostat, and a pair of scissors.
Conclusion. We present a novel method to achieve hemostasis using a sterile glove and a hemostat, that allows the surgeon to methodically titrate the amount of compression necessary to attain a bloodless field while minimizing the risks of excessive pressures.
Surgery of the digit is facilitated with adequate hemostasis for visualization of the operative field. Several types of tourniquets have been used for this purpose, including glove fingers, Penrose drains, Marmed digital tourniquets, and standard pneumatic tourniquets. We present a novel method to achieve hemostasis using a sterile glove and a hemostat that allows the surgeon to methodically titrate the amount of compression necessary to attain a bloodless field while minimizing the risks of excessive pressures.     

Recent advances in the treatment of otitis media.

Otitis media (OM) continues to be a major cause of morbidity in infants and children. Antibiotics are presently the mainstay of treatment. A variety of agents including vaccinations against the most common causative organisms, prednisone, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, intravenous immune globulin, antihistamines, decongestants, and topical antibiotics have been investigated. This review will address the recent developments in the treatment and prevention of OM.     

Pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in pediatric patients with acute otitis media.

The objective of our study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin after the oral administration of multiple doses in suspension to children with acute otitis media. Thirteen children (ranging in age from 7.5 months to 5 years) received a single oral dose of 10 mg of azithromycin per kg of body weight on day 1 followed by single daily doses of 5 mg/kg on days 2 to 5. Each child fasted overnight before receiving the final dose on day 5. Multiple blood samples were collected after the last dose. Concentrations of azithromycin in serum were measured by a specific high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. The means and standard deviations for the maximum concentration of azithromycin in serum, the time to maximum concentration of azithromycin in serum, the area under the concentration-time curve (from 0 to 24 h), and the elimination half-life were 224 +/- 120 ng/ml, 1.8 +/- 0.4 h, 1,841 +/- 651 ng.h/ml, and 31.6 +/- 6.6 h, respectively. Concentrations in serum (means +/- standard deviations) at 0 h (predose) and at 24, 48, and 72 h after the final dose were 51 +/- 26, 47 +/- 21, 27 +/- 17, and 17 +/- 13 ng/ml, respectively. Thus, the once-daily administration of azithromycin resulted in sustained systemic exposure to the drug. The drug dosage regimen used in this study should lead to tissue drug concentrations exceeding the MICs for common pathogens.