Library

Notes: PG is a rare autoimmune bullous dermatosis of pregnancy that is characterised by linear deposition of C3, and occasionally IgG1 along the BMZ of lesional, perilesional and clinically normal skin when examined by direct immunofluorescence. Frequently there is a circulating IgG1 autoantibody (PG factor) directed against a BMZ antigen that avidly binds complement.The aberrant expression of MHC class II molecules in the placenta is important in triggering the immune response against a glycoprotein of 180 kDa found in the lamina lucida of the basement membrane of the amnion which cross reacts with that in the skin. The deposition of immune reagents in the placentae in PG has been implicated in the placental dysfunction and impaired foetal outcome which has been shown to occur in PG, Al present immunofluorescence is the key to differentiating PG from other clinically similar diseases.

Notes: A study has been made of the effect of properties and composition of soils on the adsorption of ethofumesate. Adsorption isotherms of ethofumesate by agricultural and natural soils and by montmorillonite and humic acid were obtained. The correlations between the Freundlich K constants, and Kd distribution coefficients and the soil parameters were determined. Significant correlations (P〈0.05) were found between K and clay content and between Kd and smectite content for the agricultural soils but the correlation with organic matter content was of borderline or no significance.Considering the agricultural and natural soils together or the soils with an organic matter content 〉2%, a highly significant correlation was found between K and the organic matter content. According to the r2 determination coefficient, the organic matter content accounts for 88.4% of the variability in adsorption in the first case, and 92.2% in the second case. The log10 Kdom values of soils with an organic matter content 〉2% were similar and confirm the importance of the organic matter as a determinant parameter in the adsorption of ethofumesate by these soils. The adsorption of the herbicide by montmorillonite and humic acid confirmed the results obtained with the soils and point to the importance of the exchangeable cation nature of the samples and of the temperature in the adsorption process. Adsorption de l'éthofumesate dans des sols agri-coles et naturels L'effet des propriétés et de la composition du sol sur l'adsorption de l'ethofumesate a étéétudié. Les isothermes d'adsorption de 1'éthofumesate par des sols agricoles et naturels ainsi que par la montmorillonite et des acides humiques ont été déterminés. Les corrélations entre les caractéris-tiques du sol, les constantes de Freundlich K d'une part et les coefficients de distribution Kd d'autre part ont été déterminées. Des corrélations significatives (P〈0.05) ont été mises en évidence entre K et la teneur en argile ainsi qu'entre Kd et la teneur en smectite pour les sols agricoles mais la correlation avec la teneur en matisre organique etait tout juste ou non significative.Lorsqu'on considérait les sols agricoles et naturels ensemble ou les sols dont la teneur en matière organique est supérieure à 2%, une corrélation hautement significative existait entre K et la teneur en matière organique. Le coefficient de détermination r2 montre que la teneur en matière organique explique 88.4% de la vari-abilité de l'adsorption dans le premier cas et 92.2% dans le second cas. Le log10 Kdométait similaire pour les sols de teneur en matière organique 〉2%, ce qui confirme l'importance du paramètre matière organique dans l'adsorption de 1'ethofumesate par ces sols. L'adsorption de I'herbicide par la montmorillonite et les acides humiques a confirmé les résultats obtenus avec les sols et a montre 1'importance de la température du process et de la nature des cations d'échange des échantillons. Adsorption von Ethofumesat in Acker- and natürlichen Böden Bei der Untersuchung der Wirkung der Eigen-schaften und der Zusammensetzung von Böden auf die Adsorption von Ethofumesat wurden Adsorplions-Isothermen mit Acker- und natürlichen Böden sowie mit Montmorillonit und Huminsäure ermittelt. Die Korrelationen zwischen den Freundlich-Konstanten K sowie den Verteilungskoeffizienten Kd und den Bodenparametern wurden bestimmt. Signifikante Korrelationen (P〈0.05) wurden für K und den Tongehall und für Kd und den Smectit-Gehalt in Ackerböden gefunden, doch die Korrelation mit dem Gehalt an organischer Substanz war marginal oder nicht signifikant. Für Acker-und natürliche Böden insgesamt oder Böden mit einem Gehalt an organischer Substanz von 〉2% wurde eine hochsignifikante Korrelation zwischen K und dem Corg.-Gehalt gefunden. Das Bestimmtheitsmaß (r2) für die organische Substanz lag swischen 88.4% im ersten und 92.2% im zweiten Fall. Die log10Koc-Werte Böden mit einem Corg.-Gehalt von 〉2 % waren ähnlich und bestätigen die Bedeutung der organischen Substanz als bestimmenden Parameter für die Adsorption von Ethofumesat in diesen Böden. Die Adsorption des Herbizids an Montmorillonit und Huminsäure unterstreichen die an den Böden gewonnenen Ergebnisse und die Bedeutung der Kationen-Austauschfähigkeit der Proben.

Notes: To investigate a possible genetic basis for reported differences in β-2 receptor expression in atopic subjects, DNA from 42 atopic children (22 asthmatics and 22 with allergic rhinitis) and 30 non-atopic subjects was Southern blotted and Ban-1 restriction fragment polymorphisms (RFLPS) were studied using a 2.6 kb probe of the human β-2 receptor gene. Two alleles 3.1 kb and 2.9 kb were identified. Homozygotes and heterozygotes for the two alleles were found with equal frequency in the atopic patients who had asthma and in those who had allergic rhinitis only. The gene frequencies for the upper and lower alleles were 0.45 and 0.55 respectively. Our studies do not provide evidence for an association between a particular polymorphic form of the human β-2 receptor gene and atopy.

Notes: Abstract We examined the effects of pollen source and resource availability on ovule abortion in the annual legumeCassia fasciculata. Pollen source was controlled by hand-pollinating flowers with cross- or self-pollen. Resource availability to developing fruits was controlled by adjusting fruit loads (heavy versus light) on each plant and exposing plants to different photoperiod cycles (16 vs 12 h of light; short days favor fruit growth at the expense of vegetative growth). In mature fruits the proportion of ovules expanding (showing some development over virgin ovules) ranged from 89–95% and did not increase with resource availability, suggesting that unexpanded ovules were either unfertilized or obligately aborted shortly after fertilization. The proportion of expanded ovules maturing in mature fruits was near 97% for both self- and crosspollinations in the treatment with highest resource availability (light load, short days) and lower in the remaining treatments, where self-pollination resulted in up to 9% lower seed maturation than cross-pollination. In the latter three treatments a pollen source effect was dependent upon the maternal plant; in some plants selfing increased abortion and in others it did not. Collectively, the results suggest that (1) both pollen source and resource availability affect ovule abortion, (2) at least some abortion is facultative, and (3) when resources are limited, self-pollination increases abortion in some but not all maternal plants.

Notes: Summary A possible interaction of salmon-calcitonin with opioid systems was studied in isolated tissues. Neurogenic contractions were elicited by electrical stimulation in guinea-pig ileum myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle strips, rabbit vas deferens and mouse vas deferens. Bremazocine inhibited neurogenic contractions in all three tissues (presumably through κ-receptors) [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and [Met5]enkephalin inhibited contractions in mouse vas deferens (presumably through δ-receptors), and [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) inhibited contractions in guinea-pig ileum and mouse vas deferens (presumably through μ-receptors). All inhibitory effects were concentration-dependent. Salmon-calcitonin 0.1 IU/ml increased the effect of bremazocine in guinea-pig ileum and rabbit vas deferens and also increased the effects of [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and [Met5]enkephalin in mouse vas deferens. In contrast, salmon-calcitonin up to 0.4 IU/ml did not change the effect of bremazocine in mouse vas deferens and the effect of DAMGO in guinea-pig ileum and mouse vas deferens. It is concluded that salmon-calcitonin enhances agonist effects at opioid κ- and δ- but not at opioid μ-receptors. The level of this interaction remains to be elucidated. The interaction may be the basis of the analgesic effect of salmon-calcitonin in vivo.

Notes: Summary The PHLECO Study (phlebothrombosis conservative therapy) is a multicenter investigation of patients with deep vein thrombosis receiving conservative nonfibrinolytic hospital treatment. A second study (part II : PHLEFI, phlebothrombosis fibrinolytic treatment) to be published later deals with the outcome of fbrnolytic therapy. In both studies the incidence of life-threatening sequelae, such as pulmonary embolism, is of major interest. The 49 medical departments participating in the study mailed the relevant data to the Duisburg Coordination Center for further data analysis and the following information was gained: (a) In descending order of frequency, the clinical conditions of thrombosis were: immobility, postoperative status, malignancy, hormone treatment, posttraumatic conditions, and pregnancy. (b) In descending order of frequency, the sites of thrombosis were: femoral vein, calf vein, iliac vein, popliteal vein, and subclavian vein. Left-sided thrombosis predominated in the iliac and subclavian vein groups. (c) In descending order of frequency, the treatment regimens employed were: intravenous heparin+ oral anticoagulants, intravenous heparin+subcutaneous heparin, intravenous heparin alone, subcutaneous heparin alone, intravenous heparin+subcutaneous heparin+oral anticoagulants, subcutaneous heparin+oral anticoagulants, intravenous heparin + platelet aggregation inhibitors. (d) The average hospital stay was 23.7 + 15.6 days. No correlation existed between duration of hospital stay and particular types of therapy. (e) The incidence of nonfatal pulmonary embolism was 16.1% while that of fatal pulmonary embolism was 2.33%. (f) Women outnumbered men in the group with fatal pulmonary embolism, and the death rate among older patients was higher than that among younger patients. (g) Patients with fatal pulmonary embolism had a shorter history of thrombosis than patients in the unselected cohort (patients with and without pulmonary embolism). (h) Iliac vein thrombosis correlated with the highest incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism, with the right iliac vein predominating. (i) Calf vein thrombosis produced pulmonary embolism only very rarely, and pulmonary embolism was not observed in the group of patients with subclavian vein thrombosis.

Notes: Abstract Three potential chemical controls (sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and poly[oxyethylene (dimethylimino) ethylene (dimethylimino) ethylene dichloride] (commercial trade name BULAB 6002)) were evaluated for acute toxicity to small adult zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in chronic and pulsed-dose laboratory trials at two temperatures. All three control agents tested effected greater mortality ofD. polymorpha at 22°C than at 12°C. In most cases the mortality level at 12°C was one half or less that incurred at the higher temperature. Analysis of variance showed significant effects of temperature in the case of BULAB 6002 and for hydrogen peroxide; plots of cumulative mortality through time show this trend as well. The relationship between mussel valve length and time-of-death is consistently positive but is significant in few individual treatments, however, when treatments (all concentrations and temperatures) for a single biocide are pooled, the relationship is significant and explains 16–26% of the variance. This suggests that control programs might be more effective if they are initiated whenD. polymorpha are small. Pulsed-dose control programs also are affected by temperature but generally are likely to be more cost-effective than continuous application control programs and would result in lower overall discharge of biocides to surface waters. Hydrogen peroxide at concentrations of 12.0, 20.0, or 30.0 mg/L is a quick acting control agent that probably will have fewer long-term consequences for nontarget organisms in discharge areas or for municipal water users than either BULAB 6002 or, especially, sodium hypochlorite.

Notes: Summary A total of 37 men with epidermoid head and neck cancer whose disease had recurred following primary treatment (surgery and/or radiotherapy) received first-line chemotherapy with ifosfamide at i. v. doses of 3 g/m2 given daily on 3 consecutive days in combination with mesna (600 mg/m2×3 oral daily doses on days 1–3) every 3 weeks. In all, 7 patients showed a partial response and 2 patients achieved a complete response, for an overall objective response rate of 26% (9 of 35 eligible patients; 95% confidence interval, 12.5%–43%). Excluding the 5 early nontoxic deaths observed during the first 3 weeks of therapy, the objective response rate was 30% (9 of 30 patients; 95% confidence interval, 15%–49.5%). Responses were seen in lung metastases (2 patients), lymph nodes (2 patients), skin (3 patients), and cases of local recurrence (5 patients). The median duration of responses was 3 months (range, 2–5 months). The main side effects of ifosfamide were alopecia (83% of patients), emesis (80%), granulocytopenia (23%), and mild mucositis (20%). Two poor-risk patients suffered severe CNS complications that were probably related to treatment. Three patients died due to chemotherapy-related complications (2 patients with CNS toxicity and 1 patient with granulocytopenic sepsis). In conclusion, ifosfamide appears to be an active drug in epidermoid head and neck cancer and merits further evaluation in this disease.