Randomised clinical trial investigating the effects of combined administration of octreotide and methylglucamine diatrizoate in the older persons with adhesive small bowel obstruction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of combined administration of octreotide and methylglucamine diatrizoate in the older persons with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixty-two consecutive patients who had suffered from adhesive intestinal obstruction without clinical evidence of strangulation or gangrene were randomised into two groups, a control group (treated conservatively, n=82) and a contrast group (treated with combined administration of octreotide and methylglucamine diatrizoate, n=80). A laparotomy was performed in both the two groups if symptoms of strangulation developed or the obstruction did not resolve spontaneously after 72 h.

RESULTS

Statistically significant rapid reduction in pain score, lower amount of nasogastric drainage, shorter hospital stay, lower operative rate and lower postoperative morbidity were observed in the contrast group. Among the non-operative patients, earlier passage of stool and gas, earlier first oral intake and shorter duration of nasogastric tube placement were significantly more frequently observed in the contrast group. No difference in the rate of readmission was found between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined administration of octreotide and methylglucamine diatrizoate accelerates resolution of small bowel obstruction by a specific therapeutic effect and is safe for the older persons.

Irreducible correlation functions of the S matrix in the coordinate representation: application in calculating Lorentzian half-widths and shifts

By introducing the coordinate representation, the derivation of the perturbation expansion of the Liouville S matrix is formulated in terms of classically behaved autocorrelation functions. Because these functions are characterized by a pair of irreducible tensors, their number is limited to a few. They represent how the overlaps of the potential components change with a time displacement, and under normal conditions, their magnitudes decrease by several orders of magnitude when the displacement reaches several picoseconds. The correlation functions contain all dynamical information of the collision processes necessary in calculating half-widths and shifts and can be easily derived with high accuracy. Their well-behaved profiles, especially the rapid decrease of the magnitude, enables one to transform easily the dynamical information contained in them from the time domain to the frequency domain. More specifically, because these correlation functions are well time limited, their continuous Fourier transforms should be band limited. Then, the latter can be accurately replaced by discrete Fourier transforms and calculated with a standard fast Fourier transform method. Besides, one can easily calculate their Cauchy principal integrations and derive all functions necessary in calculating half-widths and shifts. A great advantage resulting from introducing the coordinate representation and choosing the correlation functions as the starting point is that one is able to calculate the half-widths and shifts with high accuracy, no matter how complicated the potential models are and no matter what kind of trajectories are chosen. In any case, the convergence of the calculated results is always guaranteed. As a result, with this new method, one can remove some uncertainties incorporated in the current width and shift studies. As a test, we present calculated Raman Q linewidths for the N2-N2 pair based on several trajectories, including the more accurate "exact" ones. Finally, by using this new method as a benchmark, we have carried out convergence checks for calculated values based on usual methods and have found that some results in the literature are not converged.

Osmotic adjustment segregates with and is positively related to seed yield in F3 lines of crosses between Brassica napus and B. juncea subjected to water deficit

For osmotic adjustment to be used as a selection criterion for adaptation to drought there is a need to demonstrate its segregation and association with seed yield in a population. This study examined osmotic adjustment and seed yield in F3 lines derived from crosses between Brassica napus (cvv. Karoo, Monty) and B. juncea (line JN25). A clear separation of the level of osmotic adjustment was observed among 20 F3 lines of Karoo × JN25 (7 high and 13 low) and 20 F3 lines of Monty × JN25 (8 high and 12 low) under glasshouse conditions. When the 3 parents and 8 selected F3 lines were grown in a low-rainfall environment in the field, the segregation of osmotic adjustment was largely similar to that observed in the glasshouse. Yield reduction, with irrigated plots as controls, was up to 30% for genotypes with low osmotic adjustment but only 10% for those with high osmotic adjustment. Osmotic adjustment was closely correlated with the accumulation of K+ (r = 0.91), soluble sugars (r = 0.90) and proline (r = 0.96), whereas other solutes (Na+, NH4+, Cl–, NO3–, Mg2+ and Ca2+) made little or no contribution to osmotic adjustment. Proline concentrations were very low in well-watered plants but sharply increased by 5- to 15-fold in plants subjected to water deficit, and net proline accumulation showed a higher association with total seed number (r = 0.86) and yield (r = 0.89) than did the concentrations of K+ (r = 0.75 to 0.82) or soluble sugars (r = 0.68 to 0.72). The study suggests that leaf proline concentration could be a good indicator of osmotic adjustment in Brassica oilseeds.

Comparative tissue factor pathway inhibitor release potential of heparins

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is released following the administration of unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparins, defibrotide and PI-88. In this study, the comparative effects of heparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin-gammaparin and a heparin-derived oligosaccharide mixture-subeparin (C3) were studied on functional and immunologic tissue factor pathway inhibitor activity levels in a non-human primate (Macaca mulatta) model. The dose-dependent effect was studied following intravenous and subcutaneous administration. Following the administration of 1 mg/kg of heparin, gammaparin, and C3, the functional levels of TFPI at 5 minutes were 2.40, 2.56, and 1.08 U/mL and the corresponding TFPI immunologic levels were 4.3-, 4.0-, and 2.1-fold, increased, respectively, over the baseline value. From these results, it can be concluded that heparin and gammaparin produced similar levels of TFPI release. Hence, gammaparin and heparin have similar TFPI release potential despite their differences in molecular weight. The influence of molecular weight, charge density, and interactions with heparin cofactor II on TFPI release are also discussed.

Cbfa1/osf2 transduced bone marrow stromal cells facilitate bone formation in vitro and in vivo

It has been well established that core binding factor a-1/osteoblast-specific factor-2 (cbfa1/osf2) is a key regulator of osteoblast differentiation and function, however, it is not known whether it can induce bone formation in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the effect of cbfa1/osf2 on bone formation, we used a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying the mouse cbfa1/osf2 gene to transduce primary cultured bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) of BALB/c mice. We found that Ad-cbfa1/osf2-transduced MSCs produced cbfa1/osf2 protein and differentiated into osteoblast-like cells. The transduced MSCs had increased alkaline phosphatase activity, increased expression of osteocalcin, osteopontin and bone sialoprotein, and increased matrix mineralization in vitro. To observe the induction of bone formation in vivo, MSCs transduced with Ad-cbfa1/osf2 were transplanted into a 5 mm diameter critical-sized skull defect in BALB/c mice, with type I collagen as scaffolding material. Healing of the defect in treatment and control groups was examined grossly and histologically at four weeks. Skull defects transplanted with Ad-cbfa1/osf2-transduced MSCs had an average of 85% osseous closure at four weeks. Control groups in which the defects were not treated (group 1), treated with collagen only (group 2), or treated with collagen and nontransduced MSCs (group 3) showed little or no osseous healing. These studies indicate that cbfa1/osf2 can induce osteoblast differentiation and bone formation both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that MSCs transduced with the cbfa1/osf2 gene may be useful in treating bone defects.

[Changes in T-lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood in patients with filarial chyluria]

OBJECTIVE

To study the changes in T-lymphocyte subsets CD4+:CD8+ of peripheral blood in 29 patients with present chyluria(PPC), 29 patients with chyluria history but without chyluria (PNPC) and 38 healthy controls.

METHODS

The determination of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ was conducted using test reagents kits.

RESULTS

The percentage of CD3+, CD4+ cell were signfcantly decreased in PPS group than in PNPC and healthy control group, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ being under 1.0. The T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio of both PNPC and healthy control group were all within normal range.

CONCLUSION

The immune function of the patients with filarial chyluria was impaired in terms of the changes in T-lymphocyte subsets.

Osmotic adjustment and seed yield of Brassica napus and B. juncea genotypes in a water-limited environment in south-western Australia

The relationship between osmotic adjustment and seed yield of Brassica oilseeds was examined at a low rainfall site, Merredin, Western Australia, in 1998 and 1999. Genotypes of B. napus and B. juncea were subjected to rain-fed and irrigated treatments at the seed-fill stage. The B. juncea lines showed small or even no yield reduction under rain-fed conditions, and generally had no yield advantage over the B. napus cultivars where irrigated. In both species, an inverse correlation was found between the magnitude of osmotic adjustment and the percentage of yield reduction. Genotypes with low osmotic adjustment, under rain-fed conditions, had a yield reduction of up to 40%, whereas those with high osmotic adjustment had only 0–10% yield reduction. In contrast, seed oil concentrations decreased from 41% under irrigation to 38% under water deficits and the differences among genotypes were not related to osmotic adjustment. In 1999, osmotic adjustment was again observed for most of the genotypes, but its association with seed yield was not as obvious as in the previous year and usually only the osmotically adjusting B. juncea genotypes maintained a good yield under water deficits. Not all the B. juncea genotypes expressed osmotic adjustment despite the fact that they were generally more drought resistant than the B. napus genotypes. In both years, however, osmotic adjustment was associated with increased harvest indices of B. napus and B. juncea, indicating that this physiological trait can be beneficial to Brassica yield in a water-limited Mediterranean-type environment.

TCDD-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase: a novel response to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) causes pleotropic effects in mammalian species through modulating gene expression. Here we analyzed TCDD-induced mRNA expression by using mRNA differential display and report the cloning of a novel TCDD-inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (TiPARP). TiPARP cDNA contains an open reading frame of 657 amino acid residues; the carboxyl half shares sequence similarity to the catalytic domain of PARP, a family of enzymes that catalyze poly ADP-ribosylation of proteins. Expression of the cDNA by in vitro transcription/translation reveals a protein of approximately 75 kDa. The expressed TiPARP exhibits PARP activity toward histone. TiPARP is highly homologous to RM1 which is induced during long-term potentiation, a memory formation process, and to TIL which is induced in T cells infiltrating progressing tumors. TiPARP mRNA is expressed in a broad range of mouse tissues. Together, these data demonstrate that TiPARP is a novel target of TCDD that may contribute to multiple responses to TCDD by modulating protein function through poly ADP-ribosylation.

Dependence of papanicolaou gradings of exfoliated urothelial cells upon GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphism in benzidine-exposed workers of the Shanghai dye industry

The distribution of the polymorphic alleles of the genes coding for glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) M1 and T1 was compared with the results of cytological grading of exfoliated urothelial cells (Pap test) in a non-diseased high-risk group of workers formerly exposed to benzidine in the Shanghai dyestuff industry (n = 317). All subjects were genotyped for GSTT1 and M1 gene polymorphism by allele-specific PCR. Individuals were stratified according to their job and duration of exposure. A subgroup of 78 individuals with cytological gradings of grade III or higher in the Pap test showed a significant under-representation of the combination of GSTT1 0/0 and M1 0/0 genotypes compared with 238 subjects with a cytological classification lower than grade III (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.98. P=0.04). These results suggest that neither the GSTM1 0/0 or GSTT1 0/ 0 genotype alone nor their combination had a clear association with cytopathological changes in exfoliated urothelial cells from individuals previously exposed to benzidine in Shanghai. This contradicts the results of studies indicating that the GSTM1 0/0 genotype is associated with an increased risk for bladder cancer in the general population, mostly outside China.

[Association between DLST gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between the polymorphic alleles of dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (DLST) gene cDNA at position A19117G in intron 13 and C19183T in exon 14 and the risk for sporandic Alzheimer's disease (SAD).

METHODS

The polymorphism of DLST gene was detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques in 105 patients with sporadic Alzheimer disease and 109 normal controls.

RESULTS

The frequency of AT/AC genotype was found to be significantly higher in SAD patients (21%) than in controls (10%) with an odds ratio of 2.36 (P < 0.05). The frequencies of AC/AC, AT/AT genotypes and AC allele were slightly decreased in cases with SAD as compared with controls. While the frequencies of the GC/GC genotype and GC allele were slightly higher in SAD patients than in controls. However, these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The AT/AC genotype of DLST gene is associated with an increased risk for SAD.

Formation of brainstem (nor)adrenergic centers and first-order relay visceral sensory neurons is dependent on homeodomain protein Rnx/Tlx3

Brainstem visceral sensory and (nor)adrenergic neurons play crucial roles in modulating cardiovascular and respiratory functions. The origins and formation of these neurons are poorly understood. Here we show that these two classes of neurons are derived from Mash1-positive precursor cells, and can be prospectively identified by combinatorial expression of two homeobox genes, Rnx and Phox2 (Phox2a or Phox2b). It was previously shown that Rnx-deficient mice die from respiratory failure. Here we show that Rnx function is required for formation of first-order relay visceral sensory neurons in the brainstem. In addition, as in Phox2b-deficient mice, the development of most (nor)adrenergic centers is compromised in Rnx mutants. We also provide genetic evidence to show that Rnx and Phox2 proteins may function independently to specify the (nor)adrenergic phenotype. Our studies reveal a surprising ontogenetic relationship between relay visceral sensory and (nor)adrenergic neurons, and suggest that it may be a common theme in the developing nervous system that the same set of transcriptional regulators is associated with formation of multiple components within a neuronal network.

Evaluation of propargyl bromide for control of barnyardgrass and Fusarium oxysporum in three soils

With the scheduled phasing out of methyl bromide, there is an urgent need for alternatives. We evaluated the efficacy of propargyl bromide as a potential replacement for methyl bromide for the control of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and Fusarium oxysporum in an Arlington sandy loam, a Carsitas loamy sand and a Florida muck soil. Soil was mixed with barnyardgrass seeds or F oxysporum colonized on millet seeds, and treated with propargyl bromide at a range of concentrations. The mortality of the fungi and weed seeds was determined after 24 h of exposure at 30 degrees C. The concentrations required to inhibit 50% barnyard seed germination (LC50) were 2.8, 2.4 and 48.5 micrograms g-1 in the sandy loam, loamy sand and muck soil, respectively. In contrast, the LC50 values for F oxysporum were 11.2, 10.8 and 182.1 micrograms g-1 in the sandy loam, loamy sand and muck soil, respectively. The low efficacy of propargyl bromide in the muck soil was a result of the rapid degradation and high adsorption of the compound in the soil. The degradation half-life (t1/2) was only 7 h in the muck soil at an initial concentration of 6.8 micrograms g-1, compared to 60 and 67 h in the sandy loam and loamy sand, respectively. The adsorption coefficients (Kd) were 0.96, 0.87 and 5.6 cm3 g-1 in the sandy loam, loamy sand and muck soil, respectively. These results suggest that registration agencies should consider site-specific properties in recommending application rates for propargyl bromide.