Flooding, root temperature, physiology and growth of two Annona species.

The effects of root zone temperature (RZT) and flooding on physiology and growth of Annona glabra L. (pond apple) and A. muricata L.

Tolerance of an enterally administered simulated amniotic fluid-like solution by neonates recovering from surgery for congenital bowel abnormalities.

Objective: We report a single-centered, Phase I pilot trial, testing the enteral administration of an experimental amniotic fluid-like solution to 10 neonates who were otherwise "NPO" following surgery for congenital bowel abnormalities. The overall hypothesis was that the trophic effect of the solution on intestinal villi would facilitate advancement to full enteral feedings. The specific hypothesis tested in this pilot trial was that the solution would be tolerated.

Chronic zinc deficiency induces an antioxidant adaptive response in rat lung.

Few studies are available about the role of dietary zinc (Zn) in respiratory diseases. Adult male rats were divided into 2 groups and fed respectively a moderate Zn-deficient diet and a Zn-adequate control diet. In lung tissue at 2 months, thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS), total glutathione, glutathione disulfide, protein carbonyls, metallothionein, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were increased, but protein thiols decreased.

CD34+ cells and CD34+CD38- subset from mobilized blood show different patterns of adhesion molecules compared to those from steady-state blood, bone marrow, and cord blood.

As suggested previously, a down-regulation of some cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) on CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) may contribute to their egress from bone marrow (BM) to peripheral blood (PB) by decreasing their adhesion to BM stromal cells. Besides counting the percentage of CAM-positive cells, we decided to define clearly the antigen density (AgD) of the CAM on mobilized- and steady-state CD34(+) HPC using QIFIKIT calibration beads. Five sources of cells were compared: PB and BM from normal donors (nPB, nBM) cord blood (CB), mobilized PB obtained from leukapheresis products (LKP), and mobilized BM (mBM) samples.

Acute bilateral iliac artery occlusion secondary to blunt trauma: successful endovascular treatment.

Introduction: Endovascular treatment of blunt vascular trauma has been infrequently reported.

Presentation: A 27-year-old man was crushed between a fork-lift truck and a concrete platform. The physical examination was remarkable for hemodynamic stability, significant lower abdominal ecchymosis and tenderness, obvious pelvic fracture, and gross hematuria.

Prophylactic use of epidermal growth factor reduces ischemia/reperfusion intestinal damage.

Ischemia/reperfusion of mesenteric vessels is a useful model for acute vascular insufficiency and the early stages of multiorgan failure, conditions associated with high morbidity and mortality. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen that shows potential for use in intestinal injury. We therefore examined its influence on this model.

Lung lipid composition in zinc-deficient rats.

There have been a limited number of studies investigating surfactant lipid changes in lung with trace elements. The present investigation was designed to examine the effect of moderate zinc deficiency on the lipid metabolism in rat lung. We also evaluated whether zinc deficiency, which is a wide-spread problem, could play a role in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

[Congenital malformations and pesticide exposure].

Background: Chronic pesticide exposure is a recognized risk for human health. The frequency of congenital malformations in exposed people, can be used for epidemiological studies assessing reproductive risk secondary to toxic exposure.

Aim: To study the association between the incidence of congenital malformations and parent's exposure to pesticides.

Molecular characterization of FOX-4, a new AmpC-type plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase from an Escherichia coli strain isolated in Spain.

A clinical strain of Escherichia coli (Ec GCE) displayed resistance to cefoxitin, cefotetan, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime. Susceptibility was not restored by the addition of clavulanic acid. Two beta-lactamases with apparent pIs of 5.

Comparison of Florida Hispanic and non-Hispanic Caucasian women in their health beliefs related to breast cancer and health locus of control.

Purpose/objectives: To compare Florida Hispanic and non-Hispanic Caucasian women in their health beliefs about breast cancer and health locus of control (LOC).

Design: Exploratory, comparative.

Setting: A variety of healthcare settings in an urban area in Florida.

Dialyzable leukocyte extract suppresses the activity of essential transcription factors for HIV-1 gene expression in unstimulated MT-4 cells.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) contains regulatory regions in its long terminal repeat (LTR) implicated in the control of viral gene expression. We previously demonstrated that Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract (DLE), a preparation derived from immune leukocytes, is able to inhibit HIV-1 replication in MT-4 cell cultures. Here, we examined the effect of DLE on the activation of NF-kappaB and Sp1 transcription factors.

[Systemic inflammatory response syndrome: is it comparable with severe sepsis?].

Background: In 1992, a consensus conference defined the terms systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. Since then, numerous reports have validated the prognostic usefulness of these operative definitions.

Aim: To evaluate if sepsis severity criteria, as defined by the Consensus Conference, can be applied to noninfectious SIRS.

Morphologic and biochemical changes in male rat lung after surgical and pharmacological castration.

The morphology of the rat lung was studied by light microscopy in different situations: after surgical and pharmacological castration and after administration of testosterone to the castrated rat to determine if the androgen is required to maintain the normal morphology of the lung. We also determined the effect of flutamide on the phospholipid composition of both the surfactant and microsomes of the lung. Rats were separated into five groups: I - control non-castrated rats, II - castrated rats sacrificed 21 days after castration, III - castrated rats that received testosterone daily from day 2 to day 21 after castration, IV - castrated rats that received testosterone from day 15 to day 21 after castration, and V - control rats injected with flutamide for 7 days.

Early intensive therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in advanced Hodgkin's disease: retrospective analysis of 158 cases from the French registry.

This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate cure rates, toxicity and late effects of early intensive therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease (HD). One hundred and fifty-eight cases of ASCT registered in the French database (SFGM) were retrospectively analyzed. Disease status at the time of ASCT was first partial response (PR) in 85, first complete remission (CR1) in 45 or primary refractory in 28 cases.

Androgen regulation of lung lipids in the male rat.

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not testosterone regulates the lipid concentration in rat lung tissue. Rats were either sham-operated controls, castrated, or castrated and injected with testosterone. Twenty-one days after castration, we observed in relation to the control: (i) Total lipids, phospholipids, and total cholesterol increased, while triglycerides decreased in whole lung.

Inhibition of in vitro HIV infection by dialysable leucocyte extracts.

Dialysable Leucocyte Extract (DLE) is a low molecular weight dialysable material of disrupted peripheral human leucocytes with widespread effects on the immune system. We described the in vitro anti-HIV activity of DLE as well as its three chromatographic fractions (Fa, Fb and Fc). To determine the levels of inhibition on HIV replication by DLE we infected MT-4 cell cultures, using the Bru viral isolate at 0.

[Anti HTLV-I antibody titers in seropositive infected individuals].

The aim of this study was to determine anti HTLV-I antibody titers in seropositive symptomatic and asymptomatic infected subjects. One hundred seven infected subjects (47 with spastic paraparesis and 60 asymptomatic) were studied. HTLV-I antibodies were determined using indirect immunofluorescence in cells infected with the retrovirus.

M-CSF (monocyte colony stimulating factor) and M-CSF receptor expression by breast tumour cells: M-CSF mediated recruitment of tumour infiltrating monocytes?

Infiltrating immune cells in 30 primary human epithelial breast tumours were studied using specific anti-CD3 (T cells), anti-CD68 (macrophages), anti-CD57 (NK cells), and an anti-pan-B cell antibody (L26). The majority of tumour infiltrating inflammatory cells are T cells (40-50%) and monocytes/macrophages (15-35%). The macrophage specific chemo-attractant and growth factor CSF-1 is detected by immunohistochemical techniques (IHC) at the level of invasive breast cancer cells in 46/50 tumours but not at the level of in-situ (pre-invasive) cancer.

[Tuberculosis of the pancreas, an anatomoclinical case].

A 49 year old "mapuche" male patient was operated on and tuberculosis of the gallbladder was found. Later on, he developed evidence of meningeal and pulmonary involvement and elevated pancreatic enzyme levels. In spite of appropriate anti-tuberculosis therapy, the patient died.

Application of computer-based experimental design to optimization of processing conditions for perfluorocarbon emulsion.

Response surface methodology was applied during process optimization of a parenteral emulsion formulation containing perfluorocarbon (PFC). E-Chip, a computer software program, was used to design and analyze the optimization experiments. The levels of eight process variables of interest were varied: pre-emulsification temperature and mixing time, mixer speed, generator type, rate of PFC addition, homogenization temperature, pressure and number of passes.

Effects of the diet consumed during the pregnancy on the lipids content in maternal and fetal rat lungs.

This study was designed to determine if the quantity of lipids in the diet fed to pregnant rats would affect the deposition of fat in the fetal lung. Wistar rats were fed with two different diets during pregnancy: Standard Diet (StD; 4.000 cal/g) and High Fat Carbohydrate Free Diet (HFCFD; 6.

Alternating sequential endocrine therapy: tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone acetate versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal advanced breast cancer patients.

The effects of tamoxifen (TAM) versus the alternating sequential combination of TAM plus medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) has been evaluated in 20 postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer in a randomized controlled trial. In the TAM arm, patients received 20 mg b.i.

Follow-up of breast cancer stages I and II. An analysis of some common methods.

A retrospective analysis of the follow-up methodology was done in 343 cases of breast cancer Stages I and II, in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the explorations performed and the usefulness of the follow-up program. The actuarial probability of relapse at 6 years was 35% for the 237 patients with negative axillary nodes and 46% for the 106 patients with nodal involvement. Fifty-eight per cent of the relapses were detected by the patients themselves, 24% of relapses were found by physical examination and 9% of relapses were discovered in chest radiographs, leading to 91% of relapses diagnosed by combination of these explorations.