Improving the availability of emergency obstetric care in conflict-affected settings

This paper describes an emergency obstetric care (EmOC) project implemented by the Reproductive Health Response in Conflict (RHRC) Consortium in 12 conflict-affected settings in nine countries from 2000-2005 with funding and technical support from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health Averting Maternal Death and Disability (AMDD) programme. The overall goal of the project was to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in select conflict-affected settings by improving the availability of EmOC. Another aim of the project was to institutionalize EmOC within RHRC Consortium agencies by modelling how to improve the availability of basic and comprehensive EmOC at clinics and hospitals. The specific project purpose was to increase the availability of EmOC in select conflict-affected settings. The project demonstrated that a great deal more can and should be done by humanitarian workers to improve the availability of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric services in conflict-affected settings.

Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitors modify the accumulation of tumor-diagnostic PET tracers in cancer cells

AIM

To establish the effects of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) blockers on 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)FDG) and (11)C-choline accumulation in different cancer cells.

METHODS

The tumor cells were incubated with NCX inhibitors, and the uptakes of (18)FDG and (11)C-choline were measured. Flow cytometric measurements of intracellular Ca(2+) and Na(+) concentrations were carried out. The presence of the NCX antigen in the cancer cells was proved by Western blotting, flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

RESULTS

The NCX is expressed at a noteworthy level in the cytosol and on the cytoplasmic membrane of the examined cells. Incubation of the cells with three chemically unrelated NCX blockers (bepridil, KB-R7943 or 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil hydrochloride) resulted in an increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, with a simultaneous decrease in the intracellular Na(+) concentration. The treatment with the NCX inhibitors increased the energy consumption of the tumor cells by 50-100%. Thapsigargin abolished the NCX-induced (18)FDG accumulation in the cells. The NCX blockers applied decreased the (11)C-choline accumulation of all the investigated cancer cells by 60-80% relative to the control.

CONCLUSION

A possible masking effect of NCX medication must be taken into consideration during the diagnostic interpretation of PET scans.

Nonequivalent requirements for PS1 and PS2 integrin at cell attachments in Drosophila: genetic analysis of the alpha PS1 integrin subunit

We report on the generation and phenotype of mutant alleles of multiple edematous wings (mew), the gene encoding the alpha PS1 subunit of the PS1 integrin of Drosophila. None of the six alleles examined makes detectable protein, and one allele results from a chromosome break near the middle of the translated sequence, so we are confident that we have described the null phenotype. In contrast to if (alpha PS2) and mys (beta PS) mutants, most mutant mew embryos hatch, to die as larvae. Mutant mew embryos display abnormal gut morphogenesis but, unlike mys or if embryos, there is no evidence of defects in the somatic muscles. Thus, the complementary distributions of PS1 (alpha PS1 beta PS) and PS2 (alpha PS2 beta PS) integrin on tendon cells and muscle, respectively, do not reflect equivalent requirements at the myotendinous junction. Dorsal herniation, characteristic of the mys lethal phenotype, is not observed in mew or in mew if embryos. Clonal analysis experiments indicate that eye morphogenesis is disrupted in mew clones, but if clones in the eye are relatively normal in morphology. Adult wings display blisters around large dorsal but not ventral mew clones. In contrast to dorsal mys clones, small mew patches do not necessarily display morphogenetic abnormalities. Thus, another integrin in addition to PS1 appears to function on the dorsal wing surface.

Aspirin improves the patency rate of seeded vena cava grafts

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of aspirin (ASA) and porcine endothelial cell seeding in improving the patency rate of vena cava grafts. Thirty-nine dogs underwent infrarenal vena cava replacement by 10 cm lengths of 8 mm I.D. ringed polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. Thirty-one grafts were seeded with 1-1.5 x 10(6) porcine aortic endothelial cells while eight were not (GIII). Of the seeded group, 16 animals received no ASA (GI), while 15 others (GII) were given ASA (325 mg) daily starting two days preoperatively and continuing until sacrifice. Venograms were performed on the fourth postoperative day. Grafts were harvested 32 days after insertion and evaluated for patency rate and endothelialized surfaces. The 32-day patency rate was significantly higher for GII than for GI and III animals (67% vs. 13 and 25% respectively). Endothelialized surface was higher in GII than Gi and III (67% vs. 16% and 18% respectively). We conclude that endothelial cell seeding alone does not prevent graft closure and that a combination of ASA and cell seeding significantly increases the patency rate of vena cava grafts.

Identifying the health risks from very low-dose sparsely ionizing radiation

The health risks from low-dose sparsely ionizing (low-LET) radiation have been the subject of continued debate. At present, quantitative estimates of risk are extremely uncertain due to the controversy surrounding both the dosimetry for A-bomb survivor data and the choice of mathematical models for extrapolating risk from high to low doses. Nevertheless, much can be learned about the nature of the health risks by reviewing the epidemiologic literature. We present a summary of diseases which have been associated with low-LET radiation (less than 1000 rad) in at least two independent studies, according to the mean cumulative organ dose at which the disease was observed. At organ doses of less than or equal to 50 rad, the only diseases that have been reported consistently are thyroid cancer, salivary gland tumors, and leukemia. The first two diseases were observed in association with x-ray epilation of the scalp for tinea capitis, a therapy which is no longer employed. On the other hand, leukemia has been observed repeatedly to occur at cumulative doses of greater than or equal to 30 rad low-LET radiation.

An independent analysis of the National Cancer Institute study on non-nutritive sweeteners and bladder cancer

We evaluated the possible relation between use of non-nutritive sweeteners and bladder cancer using data obtained from the National Cancer Institute Bladder Cancer Study under the Freedom of Information Act. In the general study group, there was no evidence for an association between non-nutritive sweeteners and bladder cancer. Control for a variety of factors through multivariate techniques diminished the plausibility of earlier interpretations of these data, which had raised the possibility that certain subgroups of users or non-nutritive sweeteners might be at an increased risk for bladder cancer. We found that the putative effects of non-nutritive sweeteners were not consistent among subgroups with similar baseline risk, did not display consistent dose-response trends, and were subject to considerable sampling error. We concluded that the data provided little evidence that non-nutritive sweeteners increase risk for bladder cancer among subgroups of users, and that definitive evidence on this question is beyond the reach of conventional research.

Urinary tryptophan metabolites and cancer of the bladder in humans

Urinary excretion of six aromatic amine metabolites of tryptophan was compared between a group of 30 patients with bladder cancer and a group of 33 controls selected from the general population of the study area. Measurements were based on a single overnight urine specimen collected at home by each subject, without a "loading" does of L-tryptophan. For each metabolite, both the distribution and the mean amount excreted were nearly identical for cases and controls. The small cases-control differences in mean values were virtually unchanged by adjustment for age, sex, and smoking status. Generally, excretion levels were higher for females than for males. Excretion levels also tended to be higher for older than for younger subjects and for smokers compared to nonsmokers. However, most of these differences also were small.