A new blind snake (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from an endangered habitat in south-eastern Queensland, Australia.

A new species of blind snake is described from south-eastern Queensland, eastern Australia. Anilios insperatus sp. nov.

An in vitro model for cytogenetic conversion in CML. Interferon-alpha preferentially inhibits the outgrowth of malignant stem cells preserved in long-term culture.

IFN-alpha has been shown to prolong survival in chronic myeloid leukemia patients, but its mechanism of action is still not understood. The human cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assay allows for the measurement of the concentration of normal as well as malignant stem cells, while their progeny can be measured in parallel long-term culture (LTC) in flasks. Using CAFC and LTC assays, we have examined direct effects of IFN-alpha (500; 5,000 IU/ml) on the maintenance and outgrowth of CD34-enriched normal and malignant stem cells, obtained from six patients with an established major cytogenetic response to IFN-alpha and from four nonresponding patients.

The relationship between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and proinflammatory and counterinflammatory mediators in children with meningococcal septic shock.

Proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha and interleukin [IL]-6 and -8), counterinflammatory compounds (IL-10 and soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75 [sTNFR-55 and -75]), and hemostatic parameters were determined in 38 patients with meningococcal septic shock. Eleven patients (29%) died. Serum levels of pro- and counterinflammatory compounds and plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 were significantly higher in nonsurvivors.