A simple, quantitative method for determining the plasmalogen content of small samples is reported here. The method uses the different susceptibility to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the alkyl, alkenyl and acyl linkages to separate the plasmalogen subclass from the other two non-labile subclasses. Hydrolysis of plasmenylethanolamine and plasmenylcholine was complete after 4 and 1 min of acid treatment, respectively. The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis did not alter the phospholipid fatty acid composition, making this method useful for fatty acid compositional analysis of the plasmalogen subclass. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for separations, and phospholipids were quantitated by assay of lipid phosphorus or by direct quantitation of peak area. Using this method, small amounts (10 nmol) of ethanolamine glycerophospholipid and choline glycerophospholipid are subjected to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and subsequent separation of the resulting lysocompounds obtained from plasmalogens from the more acid-stable alkylacyl and diacyl glycerophospholipid fractions. Our values for plasmalogens from commercial preparations of choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids agree with literature values. The usefulness of the method is demonstrated for small glycerophospholipid samples that are equivalent to samples from cultured neural cells.

Acids↗

PubMed1993

Overexpression of Her-2/neu may be an indicator of poor prognosis in prostate cancer.

Previous reports have shown that Her-2/neu oncogene expression in human breast cancer and ovarian cancer may be associated with poorer prognosis. We report the expression of Her-2/neu on fresh samples of known prostatic adenocarcinoma but not on those of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Using a monoclonal antibody (TA1) directed against human Her-2/neu oncogene product and an immunohistochemical staining method, no Her-2/neu expression was noted with benign prostatic hypertrophy (15 samples). With prostatic adenocarcinoma samples, a subset (9 of 25) showed overexpression of Her-2/neu. Such overexpression is correlated with higher histological grade, higher stage of disease, and high S phase and aneuploidy on flow cytometric analysis. These findings suggest that Her-2/neu may be a prognostic marker in prostate cancer as well.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

The impact of clinical trials on the treatment of lung cancer.

A large number of clinical trials have been conducted in lung cancer, but very few surveys have attempted to assess their impact on actual clinical practice. A questionnaire was therefore designed to address this question, and, in addition, to collect information on the numbers of patients referred and entered into trials by radiotherapists and medical oncologists in 1991. The questionnaire was sent to all 295 radiotherapists and medical oncologists in the UK, and the response rate was 81%. The respondents had 12,640 lung cancer patients referred to them and entered 2352 of them into trials. These numbers indicate that only 40% of all lung cancer patients are referred to a radiotherapist or medical oncologist, and suggest that, overall, fewer than 5% are entered into trials. Large multicentre randomized clinical trials were widely quoted as having an impact, and participants in trials were more likely to adopt trial results into their practice.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed1993

A simulated sequential analysis based on data from two MRC trials.

The motivation for proposing sequential methods for cancer clinical trials is presented, and the methodology examined by re-analysing two completed phase III cancer trials of the Lung Cancer Working Party of the British Medical Research Council. The reanalysis proceeds as if the trials had been designed with a planned series of interim analyses governing stopping. Specifically, the triangular and double-triangular tests were applied. The sequential reanalysis gave a substantial reduction in the number of patient required, and deaths observed, for conclusions to be reached in comparison with the completed studies. In each case, the sequential analysis was stratified for baseline prognostic factors which were seen to be important at the first interim analysis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1993

Enzyme immunoassay for detection of human immunodeficiency virus-specific immunoglobulin A antibodies.

Early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may be difficult in adults with acute or recent HIV infection and in infants with perinatally acquired HIV. Detection of HIV-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in infant serum by Western blot (immunoblot) has been suggested as a reliable method to identify HIV-infected infants, especially those over the age of 6 months, and as an adjunct to diagnosis of acute HIV infection in adults. We developed a simple enzyme immunoassay for detection of HIV-specific IgA, using standard commercially available reagents. Enzyme immunoassay was comparable to Western blot for detection of HIV-specific IgA in sera from adults (n = 216), older children (n = 49), and infants born to HIV-infected mothers (n = 65). Specificity was 100% and sensitivity ranged from 80 to 92%. IgA-enzyme immunoassay is a simple, highly sensitive method for detection of HIV-specific IgA antibodies and is easily adapted to the standard clinical laboratory.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Imagery: a strategic intervention to empower clients. Part I--Review of research literature.

This article is the first of a two-part series on the use of imagery in nursing practice. Imagery, an ancient healing technique, is a cognitive tool that acts as a communication mechanism among perception, emotion, and bodily change. Research has found that imagery can help reduce pain and stress, alter the course of disease, and improve clients' outlook on their illness. Imagery engenders a feeling of control and gives the client an effective tool for self-care. This article presents an overview of the history of imagery in medicine and nursing, discusses different types of imagery, and examines possible uses for imagery in a CNS's practice. Finally, recent research studies of imagery in nursing, psychology, and medicine are examined. The second article will help the nurse learn to use imagery in practice and will include a detailed imagery script.

Anxiety↗

PubMed1993

A prospective comparison of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cholecystectomy↗

PubMed1992

Phospholipid composition of cultured human endothelial cells.

Detailed analyses of the phospholipid compositions of cultured human endothelial cells are reported here. No significant differences were found between the phospholipid compositions of cells from human artery, saphenous and umbilical vein. However, due to the small sample sizes, relatively large standard deviations for some of the phospholipid classes were observed. A representative composition of endothelial cells is: phosphatidylcholine 36.6%, choline plasmalogen 3.7%, phosphatidylethanolamine 10.2%, ethanolamine plasmalogen 7.6%, sphingomyelin 10.8%, phosphatidylserine 7.1%, lysophosphatidylcholine 7.5%, phosphatidylinositol 3.1%, lysophosphatidylethanolamine 3.6%, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 1.8%, phosphatidic acid 1.9%, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 1.5%, and cardiolipin 1.9%. The cells possess high choline plasmalogen and lysophosphatidylethanolamine contents. The other phospholipids are within the normal biological ranges expected. Phospholipids were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and quantified by lipid phosphorus assay.

Cell Extracts↗

PubMed1992

Successful treatment of focal hepatic candidiasis with liposomal amphotericin B.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

In situ hybridization with single-stranded RNA probes to demonstrate infrequently elevated gli mRNA and no increased ras mRNA levels in meningiomas and astrocytomas.

Using computer-assisted digital image-analysis, the level of ras and gli messenger RNA (mRNA) in neoplasms of meningeal and glial origin was determined in an attempt to correlate these parameters with histological tumor severity. We used single-stranded, asymmetric, radiolabelled RNA probes to detect the amount of ras and gli mRNA present in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor material. Such archival material can provide an immediate, larger sample base than with fresh samples. The extent of ras mRNA expression in 25 brain tumors was not significantly different than normal cerebellum. However, five of 74 astrocytomas of relatively high malignant potential demonstrated gli mRNA levels above normal cerebellum.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1991

Reversal of multidrug resistance in HL-60 cells by verapamil and liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin.

The means of circumventing multidrug resistance was investigated in HL-60 and HL-60R (a drug resistance variant) cell lines. The HL-60R cell line was developed from the parent line by serial exposure to increasing concentrations of doxorubicin over a 4-month period. This drug resistant cell line expressed P-glycoprotein in its cell surface and is 80-fold more resistant than the parent cell line. Multidrug resistance, as evaluated by a cell cytotoxicity assay using doxorubicin, can be overcome by use of verapamil. Multidrug resistance can also be circumvented when doxorubicin is encapsulated in liposomes. The combination of verapamil and doxorubicin-encapsulated liposomes does enhance circumvention of multidrug resistance beyond the effect of each agent alone, implying a synergistic effect. The lipid composition of the liposomes does affect the rate of drug uptake but not the overall cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin. The synergistic reversal of multidrug resistance by doxorubicin-encapsulated liposomes and verapamil suggests a multifactorial basis for drug resistance in this cell line.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1991

Improved radioimmunotherapy of colorectal cancer xenografts using antibody mixtures against carcinoembryonic antigen and colon-specific antigen-p.

Radioimmunotherapy of GW-39 human colonic tumor xenografts grown in the hamster cheek pouch with 131I-labeled NP-4 anti-(carcinoembryonic antigen) (CEA) and 131I-labeled Mu-9 anti-(color-specific antigen-p) (CSAp) murine monoclonal antibodies, administered in combination, was more effective than using either antibody alone for tumor masses less than 0.5 cm3 in size. The antibody mixture had no therapeutic advantage for larger tumors. Therapeutic efficacy was determined by measuring the change in tumor size over time, quantifying the absolute number of tumors responding to radioantibody therapy, and determining the percentage growth inhibition of each treatment at various times after radioantibody administration. Several mechanisms are discussed to explain the improved tumoricidal effect of the antibody mixture noted in this model system, such as (a) the possibility that an antibody mixture could target a greater number of tumor cells, (b) the potential for antibody mixtures to provide better tumor distribution and (c) the possibility that antibodies administered in combination can increase the magnitude of tumor uptake of individual radioantibodies, thereby resulting in a greater radiation dose delivered to the tumor.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Incidence of numerical chromosome anomalies in human pregnancy estimation from induced and spontaneous abortion data.

Induced abortion data provided an estimate of 4.7% numerical chromosome anomalies for women with a clinically recognized pregnancy at the end of the 7th week after the last menstrual period (LMP). This frequency requires that 51.9% of spontaneous abortions occurring after the 7th week should be chromosomally abnormal if the frequency of numerical chromosome anomalies at term (live and stillbirths combined) is 0.53%. Cytogenetic data from surveys of spontaneous abortion suggested a lower incidence of 39.7%. However, this figure is likely to be an underestimate because chromosome anomalies are almost certainly over-represented among the many early abortuses which lack embryonic tissue and hence are not karyotyped. The frequency of numerical chromosome anomalies at conception, arising from meiotic errors, was estimated from sperm karyotype data combined with information on the relative frequencies of maternal and paternal errors in the aetiology of trisomies. This provided a minimum estimate of 20%.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1991

Effects of self-monitored exercise on selected blood chemistry parameters of end-stage renal disease patients.

The effects of exercise on patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is relatively unexplored. Of the complications associated with kidney failure, anemia and abnormal blood lipids profiles are among those that exercise may alter. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a self-monitored exercise program on the blood chemistry status in ESRD patients. The program consisted of aerobic activity maintained for a minimum of 15 min at least three times per week at an intensity of 10.8 +/- 2.13 on the Borg rating of perceived exertion scale (this scale correlates with heart rate and is used in cases where heart rate is not a reliable predictor of exercise intensity such as hemodialysis patients). Monthly blood samples were taken to assess the patients status regarding anemia and blood lipids. Results indicate no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) were seen from the beginning of the program until the end of the eighth month as seen below: [table; see text] Values are X +/- SEM. These data indicate that a self-monitored exercise program of moderate intensity may not be beneficial in helping regulate the anemia and altered blood lipid status of ESRD patients. Thus, since no physiological benefits are apparent with a self-monitored exercise program of low intensity, it is important to realize the potential risk involved with patients undertaking an unsupervised exercise program. These data illustrate that ESRD patients need supervised exercise programs in order to elicit a physiological training response.

Adult↗