Abamectin effects on aspartate aminotransferase and nitric oxide in rats

Abamectin is widely used as an insecticide and an anthelmintic. A previous report indicated that abamectin was used to commit suicide and led to death in Taiwan. This investigation focused on the toxicological effects of abamectin on serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and nitrate/nitrite (NO) levels in rats. After rats were gavaged with abamectin ranging from 1 to 20 mg/kg/body weight, AST and NO levels were examined within 12 h. AST and NO levels were elevated in abamectin-dosed rats in a dose-dependent manner. The least increase of AST corresponded to the highest enhancement of NO release at 6 h. A negative correlation coefficient (r=-0.55) between AST and NO was found. Both NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester and aminoguanidine, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, increased the AST level induced by abamectin. These findings suggest that NO may be involved in the alteration of AST release induced by abamectin in rats.

Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow substance from the root of the plant Curcuma longa Linn., has been demonstrated to inhibit carcinogenesis of murine skin, stomach, intestine and liver. However, the toxicology, pharmacokinetics and biologically effective dose of curcumin in humans have not been reported. This prospective phase-I study evaluated these issues of curcumin in patients with one of the following five high-risk conditions: 1) recently resected urinary bladder cancer; 2) arsenic Bowen's disease of the skin; 3) uterine cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN); 4) oral leucoplakia; and 5) intestinal metaplasia of the stomach. Curcumin was taken orally for 3 months. Biopsy of the lesion sites was done immediately before and 3 months after starting curcumin treament. The starting dose was 500 mg/day. If no toxicity > or = grade II was noted in at least 3 successive patients, the dose was then escalated to another level in the order of 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 8,000, and 12,000 mg/day. The concentration of curcumin in serum and urine was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 25 patients were enrolled in this study. There was no treatment-related toxicity up to 8,000 mg/day. Beyond 8,000 mg/day, the bulky volume of the drug was unacceptable to the patients. The serum concentration of curcumin usually peaked at 1 to 2 hours after oral intake of crucumin and gradually declined within 12 hours. The average peak serum concentrations after taking 4,000 mg, 6,000 mg and 8,000 mg of curcumin were 0.51 +/- 0.11 microM, 0.63 +/- 0.06 microM and 1.77 +/- 1.87 microM, respectively. Urinary excretion of curcumin was undetectable. One of 4 patients with CIN and 1 of 7 patients with oral leucoplakia proceeded to develop frank malignancies in spite of curcumin treatment. In contrast, histologic improvement of precancerous lesions was seen in 1 out of 2 patients with recently resected bladder cancer, 2 out of 7 patients of oral leucoplakia, 1 out of 6 patients of intestinal metaplasia of the stomach, I out of 4 patients with CIN and 2 out of 6 patients with Bowen's disease. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that curcumin is not toxic to humans up to 8,000 mg/day when taken by mouth for 3 months. Our results also suggest a biologic effect of curcumin in the chemoprevention of cancer.

Analysis of 200 food items for benzo[a]pyrene and estimation of its intake in an epidemiologic study

Animal studies have shown that dietary intake of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), causes increased levels of tumors at several sites, particularly in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, the role of dietary intake of BaP and cancer in humans is not clear. We created a BaP database of selected food products that could be linked to Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) to estimate BaP intake. BaP levels were measured for each food line-item (composite samples) which consisted of a variety of foods in a FFQ. Composite sample parts were derived from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) which represents the most common food items consumed by the general population. Meat samples were cooked by different techniques in controlled conditions, and by various restaurants and fast-food chains. Non-meat products were purchased from the major national supermarket chains. The quantities of BaP were measured using a thin-layer chromatography (TLC)/spectrofluorometer technique and were highly correlated with both BaP (r=0.99) [corrected] and sum of carcinogenic PAH (r=0.98) measured by HPLC technique. We linked our database to the results from a FFQ and estimated the daily BaP intake of various food items in 228 subjects in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The highest levels of BaP (up to about 4 ng BaP/g of cooked meat) were found in grilled/barbecued very well done steaks and hamburgers and in grilled/barbecued well done chicken with skin. BaP concentrations were lower in meats that were grilled/barbecued to medium done and in all broiled or pan-fried meat samples regardless of doneness level. The BaP levels in non-meat items were generally low. However, certain cereals and greens (e.g. kale, collard greens) had levels up to 0.5 ng/g. In our population, the bread/cereal/grain, and grilled/barbecued meat, respectively, contributed 29 and 21 percent to the mean daily intake of BaP. This database may be helpful in initial attempts to assess dietary BaP exposures in studies of cancer etiology.

Significantly increased cortisol secretion in normal adrenocortical cells transfected with K-ras mutants derived from human functional adrenocortical tumors

Our previous study showed that the mutation hotspots of the K-ras proto-oncogene in human functional adrenocortical tumors are in codons 15, 16, 18, and 31, thus differing from the sites in other tumors. In addition, analyzing the K-Ras protein by a recombinant DNA technique showed that the activity of endogenic GTPase and the GTPase-activating protein (GAP)-binding ability were significantly decreased in patients with these tumors. The aim of this study was to understand whether those K-ras mutants, which were found only in human adrenocortical tumors, play an important role in these tumors. Thus, the mutant K-ras cDNA was constructed with mammalian expression vectors and transfected into normal adrenocortical cells. The amount of cortisol secreted by the transfected cells was 20 to 30 times that of normal cells. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis revealed that the expression of the three steroidogenesis-related genes P450(scc) (cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme), P450(C17) (17alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase), and P450(C21) (steroid 21-hydroxylase) gene increased in the transfected cells. The K-ras oncogene significantly increases cortisol secretion by normal adrenocortical cells.

A pilot study of AFL-T (doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and tamoxifen) combination chemotherapy for hormone-refractory prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Tamoxifen had been used to treat advanced prostate cancer with limited success. In vitro data suggested that tamoxifen could enhance the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents, including doxorubicin, on prostate cancer cell lines. We applied this observation into a phase II trial for patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The AFL-T regimen consisted of doxorubicin 30 mg/m2/day on day 1; 5-FU 2,000 mg/m2/day 24-hour infusion and leucovorin 200 mg/m2/day 24-hour infusion on days 15 and 29; tamoxifen 50 mg/m2 four times daily on days 1, 2, 16, 17, 30, and 31. The protocol was designed to be of low dose-intensity and tolerable to most HRPC patients who may have reduced bone marrow reserve and poor renal function. Between Feb. 1994 and April 1999, 17 patients (median age 67, range 60-81) with HRPC were enrolled. Extensive hormonal manipulations had been done prior to the chemotherapy. Three patients had measurable diseases, 14 had only bone metastases, and all had elevated PSA levels (median 498 ng/ml, range 7.4-3,970 ng/ml).

RESULTS

All 17 patients were eligible for analysis of toxicity. ECOG Grade III/IV leukopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 1 and 3 patients, respectively. There was no febrile neutropenia; there was no treatment-related mortality. Grade III/IV nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea were noted in 0, 0, 1 and 0 patient, respectively. There was no venous thrombosis. One partial response, 1 stable disease, and 1 progressive disease were found in the three patients with measurable lesions. Eleven of the 17 patients (64.7%, 95% confidence interval: 41-88%) who were eligible for the evaluation of PSA response (PSA decrease > 50% for at least 6 weeks) were responders. The median overall and progression-free survivals were 13 and 7 months, respectively. Seventy-six percent of patients showed decreased analgesic usage or enhanced performance status.

CONCLUSION

AFL-T, that has a low toxicity profile, is comparable to most other active regimens in terms of the PSA response rate. Randomized trials are needed to determine if there exists a survival benefit for patients with HRPC.

Estimation of potential lifetime cancer risks for trihalomethanes from consuming chlorinated drinking water in Taiwan

Data on concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) in raw and chlorinated water collected from three water treatment plants in Taiwan and estimates of the lifetime cancer risk for THMs from drinking water, using age-adjusted factors and volatilization terms, are presented. Data on THM levels in drinking water were obtained from the annual reports of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Taiwan. The methodology for estimation of lifetime cancer risks was taken from the USEPA. Chloroform was the major species of THMs, especially in the water plant of south Taiwan. Chloroform contributed the majority of the lifetime cancer risks (range: 87.5-92.5%) of total risks from the three water supply areas. All lifetime cancer risks for CHCl(3), CHBrCl(2), CHBr2Cl, and CHBr3 from consuming tap water in the three water supply areas were higher than 10(-6). The sum of lifetime cancer risks for CHCl(3), CHBrCl(3), CHBr2Cl, and CHBr3 was highest (total risk for total THMs<1.94x10(-4)) for tap water from south Taiwan.

Final height of children with type 1 diabetes: the effects of age at diagnosis, metabolic control, and parental height

Normal growth is one of the major goals in the treatment of children with type 1 diabetes. We prospectively monitored the linear growth and metabolic control of 44 children (13 boys) with type 1 diabetes from the time of diagnosis to the attainment of adult height and analyzed the relationship between the height and the age at diagnosis, metabolic control, and genetic target height. At diagnosis, girls at puberty were taller (height in standard deviation score: 0.60 +/- 0.94, p = 0.022), while boys (-0.03 +/- 0.67) and prepubertal girls (0.24 +/- 0.86) were similar to the age-controlled children. During the following years, they lost height compared to their height at diagnosis (p = 0.009), but they still attained an average final height (-0.13 +/- 0.66 in boys, -0.05 +/- 0.86 in girls) correlated with their height at diagnosis (r = 0.37, p = 0.014), as well as their genetic target height (r = 0.78, p < 0.005). The final height as well as the reduction in height was not linearly correlated with the age at diagnosis. The mean HbA1c level of the 44 children was 10.33 +/- 1.74%, boys had better control compared with girls (mean HbA1c 9.45 +/- 1.28 v.s. 10.71 +/- 1.78%, p = 0.013). The final height or the reduction in height was not linearly correlated with the mean HbA1c level.

Mutations of p53 gene in gastric carcinoma in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

p53 gene mutation and p53 protein accumulation is the most common event in human cancers. The present study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of p53 mutations in patients with gastric carcinoma in Taiwan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tumor samples from 36 patients with primary gastric carcinoma undergoing radical gastrectomy were evaluated. The mutational status of the p53 (exons 5 to 8) was screened by polymerase chain reaction/single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis followed by direct sequencing. These results were compared with p53 protein expression as assessed by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

Of all 36 gastric carcinomas, mutations of the p53 gene were found in 7 cases (19.4%). These results from direct sequencing indicated that mutations consisted of five missence mutations, one silent mutation and one mutation within the splice donor site of intron 5. Mutations were found at codon 145 in exon 5 (1 case), intron 5 (1 case), codon 248 in exon 7 (1 case), codon 251 in exon 7 (2 cases), codon 285 in exon 8 (1 case) and codon 287 in exon 8 (1 case). The mutation hot spot at codon 251 in gastric cancer has not been observed previously. Over-expression of p53 oncoprotein was observed in 10 patients (27.8%) immunohistochemically.

CONCLUSIONS

p53 gene mutation might contribute to the pathogenesis of human gastric carcinoma. However, the suggestion awaits further investigation for confirmation.

Combination chemotherapy of cisplatin, methotrexate, vinblastine, and high-dose tamoxifen for transitional cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

We have previously demonstrated that tamoxifen enhanced the chemosensitivity of bladder cancer cells in vitro. In this pilot study, we tested the modulating effect of high-dose tamoxifen to conventional cisplatin, methotrexate, and vinblastine combination chemotherapy (CMV-T) for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between Nov. 1994 and Mar. 1999, 30 TCC patients were enrolled. Nine patients had muscle-invasive bladder TCC; 21 patients had either unresectable locally advanced diseases or distant metastases. CMV-T consisted of cisplatin 50 mg/m2/day, day 1 & 2; methotrexate 30 mg/m2/day, day 1 & 8; vinblastine 3 mg/m2/day, day 1 & 8; and tamoxifen 200 mg/m2/day, days 1 through 4.

RESULTS

A total of 98 courses had been given with an average of 3.27 courses per patient (range: 1-7). Grade III/IV leukopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 18% and 21% of total courses, respectively. There were 7 episodes of neutropenic fever, and 3 patients died of sepsis. Non-haematologic toxicities were generally mild. There was no venous thrombosis. Out of 26 patients eligible for evaluation of response, 1 complete and 14 partial responses with an overall response rate of 58% (95% confidence interval: 38-75%) were observed. The mean survival of all patients was 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The toxicity of CMV-T chemotherapy is moderate, but generally manageable. The response rate of CMV-T for patients with advanced TCC seems to be only comparable to most conventional cisplatin-based combinations. The possible benefit of tamoxifen to enhance chemosensitivity of TCC needs further investigation.

Congenital rhabdomyosarcoma--a case report

A term female newborn was noted to have a tumor mass in the oral cavity soon after birth. Oral computer tomography revealed a well-enhanced soft tissue mass about 4 x 4 x 3 cm in size in the left buccal area. Group III embryonal type congenital rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed after biopsy (gross removal was not feasible). Respiratory distress exacerbated due to rapid tumor growth compressing airway with the result that endotracheal tube had to be intubated. Chemotherapy was done and complicated by two episodes of neutropenic fever and sepsis. Radiotherapy was suggested but refused by the family. Tumor size was slightly reduced and endotracheal tube could be removed four months later. She was taken home under regular chemotherapy. Radiotherapy, was, however, clearly indicated.

Prolonged and enhanced suppression of thymidylate synthase by weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil

We have recently demonstrated that HDFL (high-dose 5-FU 2600 mg m-2 week-1 and leucovorin 500 mg m-2 week-1, weekly 24-h infusion) is highly active in the treatment of gastric cancer. To further clarify the possible mechanism underlying the improved activity of HDFL compared with conventional 5-FU regimens, we conducted in vitro studies examining the effect of these regimens on the differential regulation of thymidylate synthase (TS) in NCI-N87, a human gastric cancer cell line. The expected serum concentrations of 5-FU are 100-200 mM (lasting for less than 30 min) and 5-10 mM (lasting for 24 h) for the conventional 5-FU regimens (bolus injection or short intravenous infusion of 5-FU 370-500 mg m-2) and the HDFL regimens, respectively. Western blot analysis revealed that 24-h exposure of NCI-N87 to 2.5-10.0 mM of 5-FU resulted in a dose-dependent depletion of free TS, lasting for more than 24 h. In contrast, 30-min exposure of NCI-N87 to 200 mM of 5-FU resulted in a less than 12-h depletion of free TS. Moreover, 24-h exposure to 5-FU resulted in a higher S-phase blockade and enhanced cytotoxicity. In both modes of 5-FU treatment, the initial rapid depletion of free TS was accompanied by a rapid increment of a higher-molecular-weight TS molecule, suggesting that rapid formation of the ternary complex was the key mechanism of 5-FU action during this period. Northern blot analysis showed that the steady-state mRNA of TS was not affected by either of the schedules. We conclude that 24-h exposure of gastric cancer cells to low concentration of 5-FU resulted in better suppression of free TS, a higher degree of S-phase blockade, and enhanced cytotoxicity compared to 30-min exposure to high concentration of 5-FU. These in vitro results may help explain the improved clinical efficacy of HDFL regimens compared to conventional 5-FU regimens.

Polymorphism of transmembrane region of MICA gene and Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is a febrile disease of children complicated with vasculitis of the coronary arteries and potential aneurysm formation. It has been recognized worldwide and appears to be increasing in frequency. Studies have found that Kawasaki disease is associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I B antigens. The MHC-class-I-chain-related gene A (MICA) is located near HLA-B. It has a triplet repeat microsatellite polymorphism in the transmembrane region. We investigated the microsatellite polymorphism in children with Kawasaki disease and controls. Seventy children (46 boys), age at diagnosis 1.68 +/- 1.69 years, with Kawasaki who were treated with aspirin as well as intravenous gamma-globulin were enrolled. Control subjects consisted of 154 children (87 boys), age 2.81 +/- 2.12 years. Phenotype frequency of allele A4 in patients with aneurysm formation was significantly lower than in patients without aneurysms [relative risk (RR) = 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01-0.48, p = 0.00469, pc = 0.0232] and showed a similar tendency when compared with controls. Gene frequency of allele A4 was also significantly lower in patients who developed aneurysms than in patients who did not (RR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01-0.57, p = 0.0057, pc = 0.0282). Gene frequency of allele A5 showed a tendency to be higher in patients who developed aneurysms than in controls (RR = 2.35, 95% CI = 0.98-5.63, p = 0.0486, pc = 0. 220). Allele A5.1 tended to be negatively associated with Kawasaki disease (RR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.35-0.93, p = 0.022, pc = 0.105). Our study showed that allele A4 was negatively associated with coronary aneurysm formation in Kawasaki disease. This suggests that allele A4 protects the children with Kawasaki disease from developing coronary aneurysms after aspirin and gamma globulin therapy.

DQA1*Arg52,DQB1*nonAsp57, and DRB1*04 genotypes in Chinese children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Ethnic comparisons are extremely important and useful for studying the HLA component involved in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) predisposition. To date there have been only a few reports on the association of HLA loci and IDDM in Chinese. We report here a study on DQA1*Arg52, DQB1*nonAsp57, and DRB1*04 in IDDM children and control adults among Han Chinese living in Taiwan. One hundred and fourteen unrelated children (62 boys) with IDDM were studied. Their ages at diagnosis were between 0.3 and 15.0 years (6.8 +/- 3.6 years). The control population consisted of 120 randomly selected normal adults. DQA1*Arg52(+/+), DQB1*nonAsp57(+/+), and DRB1*04(+/-) were associated with IDDM (RR = 11.50, 2.21, and 2.82; p = 1.11 x 10(-15), 2.84 x 10(-3), and 1.98 x 10(-4), respectively). DQA1*Arg52, DQB1*nonAsp57, and DRB1*04 conferred risks for IDDM (RR = 12.79, 7.11, and 2.83; pc = 8.22 x 10(-4), 5.35 x 10(-3), and 5.68 x 10(-4), respectively). Combinations of DQA1*Arg52 and DRB1*04 conferred the highest risk for IDDM (RR = 19.64, pc = 5.4 x 10(-5)). DQA1*Arg52 was associated with IDDM in subjects with DQB1*nonAsp57+ (RR = 14.87, pc = 2.41 x 10(-4)) and DQB1*nonAsp57 was also associated with IDDM in subjects with DQA1*Arg52+ (RR = 8.41, pc = 1.54 x 10(-3)), suggesting that DQA1*Arg52 and DQB1*nonAsp57 are interacting. This study demonstrates that DQA1*Arg52, DQB1*nonAsp57, and DRB1*04 confer susceptibility for IDDM to Chinese children. A combination of DQA1*Arg52 and DRB1*04 confers the highest risk and it is suggested that a susceptibility gene might be situated between DQA1*Arg52 and DRB1*04 or both are synergistic. There is an interaction between DQA1*Arg52 and DQB1*nonAsp57 and homozygosity for DQA1*Arg52/DQB1*nonAsp57, which encodes four susceptibility DQ heterodimers, confers a high risk.

Clinical presentation of acute mastoiditis in children

Nineteen children with 21 episodes of acute mastoiditis were treated in our hospital from 1989 to 1998. The diagnosis was based on physical, radiologic, and surgical findings. The affected children were aged from 1 year old to 17 years old, with the peak incidence at 4 years old (23.8%). Postauricular pain (90.5%) and fever (81%) were the most common harbingers of incipient acute mastoiditis. Streptococcus pneumoniae (38.1%) was the most common organism isolated followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.8%). Underlying diseases such as leukemia and myeloid metaplasia were found in 38.6% of patients. All of the patients were initially treated with intravenous antibiotics during hospitalization. Six patients were managed with an adjunctive drainage procedure such as myringotomy or mastoidectomy. The most common complication of acute mastoiditis was hearing loss (31.6%); the second was meningitis (21.1%). Subperiosteal abscess was found in two patients and brain abscess in one. Although acute mastoiditis is an uncommon condition, early diagnosis and management are necessary to prevent more serious complications.

Increased frequency of angiotensin-converting enzyme DD genotype in patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is one of the major causes of end-stage renal failure in the Taiwanese population. Previous studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor can improve glucose utilization and suppress hepatic glucose production and the renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Thus, ACE gene polymorphism may be associated with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.

METHODS

To investigate the distribution of ACE-I/D genotype in type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy, we examined 336 patients with type 2 diabetes (157 without nephropathy and 179 with nephropathy) and 263 age-matched normal controls. The diagnosis of nephropathy was made when daily protein loss exceeded 500 mg. ACE gene polymorphism was analysed by use of polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that the frequency of the D allele of the ACE gene was 29.3% in normal controls. The frequency of ACE DD genotype was significantly higher in type 2 diabetics compared with normal controls (18.2 vs 9.1%, P<0.01). The frequency of ACE DD genotype in patients with diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher than in patients without nephropathy (22.3 vs 13.4%, P<0.05). To determine whether ACE gene polymorphism was associated with the severity of diabetic nephropathy, we divided patients with diabetic nephropathy into dialysis and non-dialysis groups. The frequency of ACE DD genotype in the dialysis group was significantly higher than in non-dialysis group (28.7 vs 15.3%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the frequency of ACE DD genotype is markedly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the ACE DD genotype is significantly associated with diabetic nephropathy.

Increased renal medullary endothelin-1 synthesis in prehypertensive DOCA- and salt-treated rats

To investigate the role of renal endothelin-1 (ET-1) synthesis in water-sodium homeostasis, we measured mRNA expressions, protein levels, enzyme activity, and receptor binding of the renal ET-1 system in a DOCA- and salt-treated rat model. Male Wistar rats were divided into control and DOCA- and salt-treated (DOCA-Salt) groups. The DOCA-Salt group received 25 mg/kg body wt DOCA and was maintained on 1% NaCl drinking water. Rats were killed on days 1, 2, 4, and 10 of the experiment. Urinary ET-1-like immunoreactivity significantly increased from the second day in the DOCA-Salt group and correlated well with the urinary sodium excretion rate (r = 0.81, P < 0.001). Renal endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) activity, ET-1, and ECE-1 mRNA expressions were significantly increased in the renal medullary area of DOCA-Salt rats. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies showed that the increase in ET-1 synthesis was mainly localized in the inner medullary collecting ducts. The maximum binding of endothelin B receptor also increased from the second day in the renal medulla of the DOCA-Salt group. Our results suggest that renal medullary synthesized ET-1 may be a natriuretic factor and may participate in the intrarenal regulation of water and salt homeostasis in prehypertensive DOCA-and salt-treated rats.

Capture-recapture when time and behavioral response affect capture probabilities

We consider a capture-recapture model in which capture probabilities vary with time and with behavioral response. Two inference procedures are developed under the assumption that recapture probabilities bear a constant relationship to initial capture probabilities. These two procedures are the maximum likelihood method (both unconditional and conditional types are discussed) and an approach based on optimal estimating functions. The population size estimators derived from the two procedures are shown to be asymptotically equivalent when population size is large enough. The performance and relative merits of various population size estimators for finite cases are discussed. The bootstrap method is suggested for constructing a variance estimator and confidence interval. An example of the deer mouse analyzed in Otis et al. (1978, Wildlife Monographs 62, 93) is given for illustration.

Convulsions during superior laryngeal nerve block--a case report

Complications following local anesthesia for fiberoscope-assisted intubation are rare. We report a case with surgical condition indicating awake endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia, suffering from convulsions after receiving left superior laryngeal nerve block to facilitate the procedure. The possible cause may be accidental injection of the local anesthetic into the vertebral artery. Although the amount of local anesthetic injected was small, its concentration in the brain might be high enough to cause convulsion. The central nervous system toxicity of local anesthetic depends not only on the dosage used, but also on the rate of injection, as well as the site at which it is injected. Starting from a small dose together with careful monitoring of patient's response is advised when nerve block in the neck is performed. Here, we also emphasize the importance of availability of resuscitation equipment for maintaining adequate ventilation and circulation in case of emergency.

Polymorphism in the transmembrane region of the MICA gene and type 1 diabetes

Although MHC class II genes have a stronger association with type 1 diabetes than MHC class I genes, studies have shown that MHC class I molecules play an independent role in the etiology of type 1 diabetes, and the existence of susceptibility genes within a segment of MHC between the HLA-B and TNF genes has been predicted, where MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA) resides. MICA has a triplet repeat polymorphism in the transmembrane region consisting of five alleles. We analyzed this polymorphism in 162 unrelated children (82 boys) with type 1 diabetes (age at diagnosis 7.01 +/- 3.76 yr) and 154 randomly selected unrelated children (87 boys), age 2.81 +/- 2.12 yr. Phenotype frequency of allele A9 in children with type 1 diabetes was significantly higher than in controls (RR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.52-3.85, p = 0.000162, pc = 0.00081). Gene frequency of allele A9 was also significantly higher in children with type 1 diabetes when compared with control children (RR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.85-4.03, p = 2.62 x 10(-7), pc = 1.31 x 10(-6)). This study demonstrates that MICA allele A9 confers risk of type 1 diabetes.