Anticonvulsant Activities of 4–Bromobenzaldehyde Semicarbazone

Summary: Some of the properties of 4–bromobenzalde-hyde semicarbazone (compound IV), a prototype molecule of a new class of anticonvulsants, aryl semicarbazones, are described. Compound IV demonstrated activity in the maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol (scPTZ) tests in mice, with low neurotoxicity. When given orally to rats, it displayed high potency in the MES test and very low neurotoxicity, resulting in a high protective index (PI). Compound IV displayed no proconvulsant properties, and development of rapid tolerance was not noted. When administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) at doses of 100, 300, or 600 mg/kg to rats, compound IV had no effect on levels of γ-aminobu-tyric acid (GABA) or on GABA-T activity in whole brain. When tested in vitro, compound IV had no effect on rat brain GABA-T at a drug concentration of 100 μM. Although the activities of certain drug-metabolizing enzymes were increased after oral administration of compound IV to rats, these effects were less prominent than those of phenytoin (PHT) and carbamazepine (CBZ). The principal mode of action of compound IV does not appear to be an interaction with the GABA_A receptor complex, and other mechanisms, involving excitatory amino acid neurotransmission, will have to be considered in future investigations of the anticonvulsant activity of this compound.     

CCl4和PS两种SD大鼠模型肝纤维化进程时效关系对比研究

目的　比较CCl4 法和PS法两种肝纤维化制模方法在肝纤维化形成进程中时效关系和病理学特征。方法　采用CCl4 和PS法制作SD大鼠肝纤维化模型 ,分别观察在造模第 6、10、14、2 0周时肝脏组病学特征 ,Masson三色染色和计算机图像分析系统进行分析。结果　CCl4 法于制模第 6周即可见肝脏假小叶形成 ,于第 10周始最为典型 ;随着假小叶的形成和造模方法停止 ,肝脏病理结构变化趋于稳定 ;肝细胞脂肪变性尤为突出 ,与模型制作进程相平行。PS法于造模第 10周即造模结束时方见纤维间隔形成 ,造模虽已停止但肝纤维化进程加速完成 ,肝组织分隔严重 ,假小叶形成较多并进展到第 2 0周 ;制模自始至终 ,肝细胞未见明显脂肪变性。结论　CCl4 和PS两种制模方法在肝纤维化形成进程中所表现出的时效关系和病理特征有所不同 ,提示两种制模方法在形成肝纤维化机制方面有所不同。结合使用两种方法研究肝纤维化更为合理 ;以抗肝纤维化干预因子进行干预研究时 ,干预因子的持续时间宜延长至肝纤维化形成之高峰期或之后 ,持续时间至少 14周 ;预防和治疗用药干预研究时 ,其起始时间宜分别以造模开始前 4周和造模停止前 4周为宜     

Prognostic factors in clinical trials

Summary Prognostic factors define the study population, help formulate the study objectives, and influence the treatment strategies. They must be accounted for in the study analysis to obtain valid estimates of the treatment differences and to evaluate results across studies. The causal relationship between a prognostic factor and the study endpoint can only be established through prospective randomized study designs. Potential factors discovered through retrospective analysis must be verified to establish their validity. Using such factors prematurely to select patient population and treatment strategy for a new study will not establish the validity of the potentially important factor.Supported by NCI 5 PO1 CA53996-15 and NCI 5 U10 CA38926-08.     

The spherical aberration of aphakic eyes corrected with intra-ocular lenses

The spherical aberration of eyes corrected with intra-ocular lenses is investigated using a model eye with realistic levels of corneal asphericity. The results indicate that the aberration is intermediate between that of paraxial schematic eyes and real eyes. By using standard optical aberration theory, it is shown that for a plano-convex lens with the curved surface facing the cornea, the aberration is similar to that of normal phakic eyes and therefore probably too low to be of any clinical significance. However, for other lens orientations or designs, the level of aberration is usually higher and may lead to a refractive error varying with pupil size and a loss of acuity with large pupil diameters.     

Adaptive group sequential design for phase II clinical trials: A Bayesian decision theoretic approach

Bayesian decision theoretic approaches (BDTAs) have been widely studied in the literature as tools for designing and conducting phase II clinical trials. However, full Bayesian approaches that consider multiple endpoints are lacking. Since the monitoring of toxicity is a major goal of phase II trials, we propose an adaptive group sequential design using a BDTA, which characterizes efficacy and toxicity as correlated bivariate binary endpoints. We allow trade‐off between the two endpoints. Interim evaluations are conducted group sequentially, but the number of interim looks and the size of each group are chosen adaptively based on current observations. We utilize a loss function consisting of two components: the loss associated with accruing, treating, and monitoring patients, and the loss associated with making incorrect decisions. The performance of our Bayesian modeling, and the operating characteristics of decision rules under a wide range of loss function parameters are evaluated using seven scenarios in a simulation study. Our method is illustrated in the context of a single‐arm phase II trial of bevacizumab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

兔慢性肾衰竭加速性动脉粥样硬化病理形态学变化

目的：通过结扎兔肾动脉分支建立慢性肾衰竭模型,观察主动脉病理变化。方法：新西兰白兔60只,随机分为慢性肾衰竭组（CRF组）和假手术组（Sham组）。CRF组结扎左肾动脉分支同时切除右肾,术后动态观察兔主动脉、残余肾的病理形态学变化和肾功能等指标。结果：CRF组兔术后血清BUN、Scr逐渐升高,肾脏病理逐渐出现明显的肾小球硬化和肾间质纤维化;主动脉逐渐出现内皮细胞脱落、脂纹、粥样斑块等动脉粥样硬化的表现。结论：通过结扎兔左肾外动脉分支和切除右肾一次完成的方法可成功建立CRF加速性动脉粥样硬化模型。     

MULTICENTER STUDY DESIGN OF THE EX VIVO EVALUATION OF ENDOCYTOSCOPY IN ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Optical technological innovations enable us to visualize cellular nuclei endoscopically. Herein is described a protocol design for a multicenter study for the ex vivo evaluation of endocytoscopy. The present study was performed by the Endoscopy Forum Japan study group.     

Practice of orthokeratology by a group of contact lens practitioners in Hong Kong

Purpose: The aim of the study was to provide information about the characteristics of three main types of orthokeratology (ortho‐k) lenses used in Hong Kong and to report on their performance based on the clinical impressions of a group of ortho‐k practitioners. Method: Twelve ortho‐k practitioners were interviewed between 1 March and 30 June 2001. Results: Most ortho‐k lenses were ordered from three manufacturers: DreimLens, Fargo and Contex. The median maximum myopia reduction reported for DreimLens, Contex and Fargo lenses were 6.25 D, 6.00 D and 4.50 D respectively. The time to reduce myopia by up to 4.00 D could be up to three weeks for Contex and DreimLens and up to four weeks for Fargo. For reduction of myopia by up to 4.00 D, the treatment usually required only one or two lenses per eye for all three types of lenses. The incidence of lens binding and lens tightening after achieving the optimal reduction was reported to be higher with the DreimLens design. Good centration, less lens binding, relatively lower incidence of complications and lens tightening after achieving the optimal reduction were reported with the Fargo lenses. Conclusions: DreimLens tended to be more effective for myopia reduction. However, some practitioners were concerned with the aggressiveness of myopia reduction using this lens design and the higher potential for ocular complications. Selection of the lens design is dependent on various factors, in particular, practitioners need to be comfortable with the design they choose and to consider the needs of their patients and the final goal of the treatment.     

分次灌注海水致兔呼吸窘迫综合征模型的建立

目的通过向兔气管插管内灌入海水，建立海水淹溺致急性呼吸窘迫综合征模型。方法14只新西兰大白兔被随机平分为C组（对照组，无任何处理）和S组（海水组，用海水灌注）。观察分次适量海水灌入气管插管后症状学、血气分析、血液动力学、血清中肿瘤坏死因子（TNF—α）和白细胞介素-6（IL-6）的变化。2h后给每组试验兔拍摄肺CT片，并观察其组织病理学变化。结果与C组相比，S组的O2和CO2指数显著降低（P〈0．01），呼吸动力学和血液动力学的情况明显恶化。TNF—α和IL-6增高，这一结果提示肺损伤发生于兔被海水灌注之后。另外，还发现模型兔有明显的肺水肿、肺泡隔断裂和炎性渗出。结论成功复制了既符合海水淹溺的实际情况，又符合国内外急性呼吸窘迫综合征诊断标准的海水淹溺致急性肺损伤动物模型。