Design of an adolescent activity room

To meet the recreational and developmental needs of hospitalized adolescents, an activity room was designed with adolescents as members of the design team. The design process and materials developed are described. An evaluation process for the environment and program is also presented.

Spatial patterns of gene expression in preimplantation mouse embryos

The distribution of total polyadenylated RNA and mRNAs from the beta-actin, fibronectin, and cytokeratin Endo A genes was examined in preimplantation mouse embryos using in situ hybridization of riboprobes to RNA in sections of embryos. Polyadenylated RNA was found in the cytoplasm of all cells of blastocyst-stage embryos, whereas the specific mRNAs displayed three distinct patterns of expression: uniform throughout the embryo (beta-actin), enriched in the inner cell mass (fibronectin), and enriched in the trophectoderm (Endo A). In eight-cell embryos, the polyadenylated RNA was more concentrated in nuclei than in the cytoplasm (as noted previously), although this was not the case in blastocysts, nor was it true for the specific mRNAs that were examined. These experiments demonstrate that there is localized gene expression in the early mouse embryo, which correlates with the formation of the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass.

Characterization of a cDNA clone coding for a sea urchin histone H2A variant related to the H2A.F/Z histone protein in vertebrates

A cDNA clone coding for a sea urchin histone H2A variant has been isolated. The coding region of the clone has been sequenced and the sequence found to be closely related to the H2A.F sequence in chickens. The nucleotide sequence of the sea urchin H2A.F/Z is 74% conserved when compared to chicken H2A.F and 51% conserved compared to sea urchin H2A early and 60% compared to sea urchin H2A late. The nucleotide-derived amino acid comparisons show that H2A.F/Z is 97% homologous with H2A.F in chickens and 57% and 56% homologous when compared to sea urchin H2A early and late respectively. There are between 3-6 copies of the H2A.F/Z sequence in the S. purpuratus genome. The H2A.F/Z gene sequence codes for the previously identified H2A.Z protein. All embryonic stages and adult tissues tested contain mRNA for H2A.F/Z. The mRNA appears in the poly A+ RNA fraction after chromatography over oligo dT cellulose.

Fetal liver infusion in acute myelogenous leukaemia

Forty-five patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) received induction chemotherapy with either a conventional dose of cytarabine and daunorubicin (27 patients) or a low dose of cytarabine (18 patients). Maintenance chemotherapy was given to all responders. In 14 of 39 evaluable patients, infusion of fetal liver cells from 10-24 weeks old foetuses was given following induction as well as maintenance therapy. Six of 14 patients (43%) achieved a complete remission; 2 showed evidence of transient engraftment documented by analysis of sex chromosomes and RBC antigens (1 patient each). Fetal liver infusion within 6 days of completing induction chemotherapy appeared more effective than when given later. Five of 25 patients (20%) who did not receive fetal liver infusion achieved a complete remission. The present work suggests that fetal liver infusion given following induction chemotherapy may increase the remission rate in AML either by temporary engraftment or by accelerating the rate of haematological recovery.

Fetal liver infusion in aplastic anaemia

Forty patients with severe aplastic anaemia received an intravenous infusion of 0.004 to 11.1 x 10(8) (median: 8 x 10(8) hematopoietic cells prepared from the fetal livers of 8-32 week old abortuses. Five patients, who died within 15 days of fetal liver infusion, are excluded from analysis. Twenty-two of the 35 evaluable patients (62%) responded favourably. Six of the 7 patients with good response were alive after 9 to 44 months (median: m = 20); one died 106 months after fetal liver infusion due to renal lithiasis. Four of the 7 with moderate response were alive after 9 to 31 months; 3 died within 16 months. Of 8 patients with minimal response, one was lost to follow-up and the others died in 3.4 to 10 months (m = 6). Median survival of responders was 15.7 months. Bone marrow cellularity became normal in 12 patients following fetal liver infusion. In seven patients, there was a relapse; 6 regained a normal bone marrow cellularity after a second or third fetal liver infusion. These data strongly suggest a role of fetal liver infusion in inducing bone marrow recovery. Of 13 non-responders, 4 were lost to follow-up and 9 died within 20 days-4.3 months (m = 1.6). Fetal liver infusion appears to be an effective therapy in patients with severe aplastic anaemia.