A comparison of imipenem to ceftazidime with or without amikacin as empiric therapy in febrile neutropenic patients.

Background: Neutropenic patients with cancer are traditionally treated with empiric antibiotic combinations when they become febrile. The availability of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as ceftazidime and imipenem has made it possible to initiate therapy with a single agent (monotherapy). The objectives of this trial were to compare ceftazidime and imipenem as single agents for the therapy of febrile episodes in neutropenic patients and to ascertain whether the addition of an aminoglycoside (amikacin) to either of these agents would provide an advantage.

Transactivation of the proenkephalin gene promoter by the Tax1 protein of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), an etiologic agent for adult T-cell leukemia, is strongly associated with certain neurological diseases. The HTLV-I genome encodes a protein, Tax1, that transactivates viral gene transcription. CD4-positive T helper lymphocytes express the proenkephalin gene, and enkephalins have been implicated as neuroimmunomodulators.

Uses and limitations of high dose dipyridamole stress echocardiography for evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Objective: To compare the usefulness of high dose dipyridamole stress echocardiography with dipyridamole stress electrocardiography and exercise electrocardiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Design: Prospective investigation with coronary angiography as the criterion standard and blinded assessment of study data.

Setting: Cardiology unit of a tertiary referral centre.

Selective transcription of rat proenkephalin fusion genes from the spermatogenic cell-specific promoter in testis of transgenic mice.

The rat and mouse proenkephalin genes each contains two distinct promoters, one of which is utilized exclusively by spermatogenic cells. The germ cell-specific promoter lacks TATA sequences, is G+C rich, and contains multiple initiation sites. To investigate the nature of the cis-acting elements that determine selective transcription of the proenkephalin gene in male germ cells, two rat proenkephalin-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusion genes containing the two different promoter regions as well as 1.

Ferritin: the role of aluminum in ferritin function.

We previously showed that human brain ferritin (HBF) binds aluminum (Al) in vivo and in vitro and HBF isolated from Alzheimer's brain had more Al bound compared to aged matched controls (7). To further understand the role ferritin may play in Al neurotoxicity, we have studied in vitro the effect of Al on the function of human ferritin isolated from Alzheimer's (AD) and normal brain tissue, and compared the results with other mammalian ferritins. Al causes a concentration-dependent decrease in the initial rate of iron loading into apo-horse spleen and human brain ferritin and the rates were similar for ferritin isolated from both AD and normal brains.

Evaluation of dipyridamole-Doppler echocardiography for detection of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery disease.

Doppler assessment of left ventricular filling and ejection during dipyridamole stress may supplement wall motion analysis for detection of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). Thirty-four patients taking no cardioactive therapy were studied using intravenous dipyridamole (0.6 mg/kg) during 2-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

Proenkephalin gene expression in C6 rat glioma cells: potentiation of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent transcription by glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids enhance proenkephalin gene expression in several cell types. To elucidate the mechanism(s) involved, we analyzed the potentiation by dexamethasone of the cAMP-dependent increase in proenkephalin mRNA levels elicited by forskolin in C6 rat glioma cells. This potentiation did not require ongoing protein synthesis.

Contraceptive acceptance in a tribal area of Maharashtra.

Background: The performance of rural areas of Maharashtra in the family welfare programme has not been previously investigated.

Methods: A study was carried out on the knowledge, attitudes and practice of contraception in 254eligible women from a rural area in Thane district, Maharashtra.

Results: The knowledge and practice of different contraceptives, particularly of spacing methods, was significantly less amongst non-acceptors than acceptors.

Fabrication and characterization of dye doped polyester-polyurethane optical waveguides.

A systematic study of the fabrication and characterization of planar optical waveguides based on polyester-polyurethane coatings was done. Mode effective refractive index measurements were performed on a large number of these waveguides fabricated on glass substrates prepared in different conditions. The results indicate that the effect of the dye is to increase the refractive index of the waveguides.

Neurochemical hypothesis: participation by aluminum in producing critical mass of colocalized errors in brain leads to neurological disease.

1. Aluminum is an established neurotoxin. Prolonged exposure to even low levels of aluminum permit its chelation and subsequent transport to brain where it is non-uniformly distributed.

Concanavalin A is not a ferritin.

Contrary to recent claims, in vitro evidence has been obtained to establish that Concanavalin A (Con A) is not a ferritin. Four techniques including immunoprecipitation, gel filtration, sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and CsCl centrifugation were employed. None of them showed that Con A is a ferritin.

Cardiac abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus. Association with raised anticardiolipin antibodies.

Two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were prospectively performed in 93 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to discover the incidence and spectrum of cardiac abnormalities and to relate these findings to the presence of high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies. Assessment of the intracardiac anatomy was also performed in an additional 12 patients who had increased anticardiolipin antibody levels but did not have SLE. Fifty patients (54%) with SLE had cardiac abnormalities, and 43 patients (46%) had normal hearts.

Aluminum, a neurotoxin which affects diverse metabolic reactions.

Experimental evidence is summarized to support the hypothesis that chronic exposure to low levels of aluminum may lead to neurological disorders. These disorders result from defective phosphorylation--dephosphorylation reactions, reduced glucose utilization and site-specific damage inflicted by free radicals produced by altered iron metabolism. The brain is a highly compartmentalized organ.

Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in two-phase aqueous extraction using spray columns.

Spray columns can be used to isolate and purify proteins using the two-phase aqueous extraction technique based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran. The fractional dispersed phase (PEG) holdup and overall mass transfer coefficients were measured in a 9.7 mm i.

Effect of uv exposure on optical properties of amorphous as(2)s(3) thin films.

Systematic studies of the refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical band gap have been made of as grown and UV-exposed amorphous films of As(2)S(3) grown by thermal evaporation from resistive source. The refractive index and extinction coefficient have been found to change with different UV exposure duration. No noticeable change was observed in the optical band gap with UV exposure.

Ultrasonographically observed preterm grade III placenta and perinatal outcome.

Ultrasound studies of placenta were conducted in 270 singleton normal pregnancies. Women were enrolled between 31 and 34 weeks of gestation and were followed up for the outcome of pregnancy. Women with grade III placental maturity comprised the study group (n = 64) and those with grade I placenta were enrolled as control group (n = 206).

Characterization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase isozymes from human and pig brain.

Homogenates of human and pig brain in 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 were centrifuged at 25,400 x g for 1 h. The supernatants were electrophoresed in polyacrylamide gels were stained for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.

Ferritin is a component of the neuritic (senile) plaque in Alzheimer dementia.

A strong immunoreactivity for ferritin was observed in the neuritic (senile) plaques in Alzheimer's disease hippocampus. The ferritin accumulation was almost exclusively associated with the microglia, which appeared to have proliferated greatly. These cells were also positive for HLA-DR, a putative marker for reactive microglia.

Continuous counter-current two-phase aqueous extraction.

Continuous counter-current column operation provides operating convenience for contacting two-phase aqueous partitioning systems for protein extraction. We discuss in detail the important parameters for designing spray, packed, plate and York-Scheibel columns for protein recovery using both polymer-polymer and polymer-salt two-phase aqueous systems. We compare the various contractors for their operating and extraction efficiency.

T2 values in the human brain: comparison with quantitative assays of iron and ferritin.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a whole-body imager was performed in 10 fresh, unfixed whole human brains selected randomly from cadavers. All subjects were neurologically intact before death. T2 time constants were measured within the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, cortical gray matter, subcortical white matter, and optic radiation.

The effect of new broad-spectrum antibiotics on faecal flora of cancer patients.

The effects of newly available broad-spectrum antibiotics, used for infection prophylaxis and therapy in cancer patients, on faecal aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were investigated. Quantitative and qualitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures were performed in 34 patients before therapy and between the sixth and eleventh day of therapy. Of the two prophylactic regimens norfloxacin plus amphotericin-B eliminated Enterobacteriaceae and enterococci without encouraging growth of yeasts or Clostridium difficile whereas trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole did not eliminate enterococci and colonization with toxin producing C.

Inactivation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase isozymes from human and pig brain by aluminum.

Prolonged intake of low levels of aluminum from the drinking water has been found to increase the aluminum content in rat brain homogenates and to reduce the activity of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). To determine the interaction of G6PD with aluminum in the brain, we have recently purified two isozymes of G6PD (isozymes I and II) from human and pig brain. Unlike isozyme I, isozyme II also had 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) activity.