Methods for generating point mutations at predetermined sites of RNA or DNA genomes have been developed. With Qbeta RNA as a template, minus strands were synthesized in vitro in a stepwise, substrate-controlled reaction. The nucleotide analogue N4-hydorxyCMP was introduced in the desired position, the minus strands were completed with the four standard triphosphates and used as templates to synthesize plus strands; about 30% of the progeny plus strands showed a base transition at the position corresponding to the nucleotide analogue. Two mutant RNAs with extracistronic nucleotide substitutions have been generated; one of these was viable, albeit with a reduced propagation rate, while the other was non-infectious. Furthermore, mutants with changes at the initiation codon of the coat cistron were prepared. An analysis of ribosome binding to such mutant RNAs revealed the importance of the A-U-G region for the formation of the initiation complex. With a similar approach applied to the beta-globin complementary DNA (CDNA) plasmid PbetaG, point mutations have been introduced at the positions corresponding to amino acids 121 to 123.

Base Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in living donors.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (HLN) in living donors is a minimally invasive surgical modality that uses classic laparoscopic techniques either combined or not with the use of the surgeon's hand as a support tool during renal dissection maneuvers. The purpose of this study was to describe the initial experience with HLN technique in renal donors. Among 58 hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomies, the left kidney was removed in 39 donors (67%) and the right in 19 (33%). Surgery time ranged from 55 to 270 minutes (mean 156.9 +/- 49.5). Warm ischemia time ranged from 2 to 11 minutes (mean 4.38 +/- 2.31 min), with an estimated mean blood loss during the intraoperative period of 268 mL. Conversion to open surgery was required for four (6.8%) patients due to a vascular lesion. Upon graft evaluation, we observed immediate diuresis in 56 (96.3%) cases, with a mean serum creatinine on postoperative day 7 of 1.74 +/- 1.61 mg/dL. Renal vein thrombosis requiring graft removal occurred in one (1.7%) patient. Lymphocele was observed in three recipients (5.1%), and urinary leakage due to ureteral necrosis in three cases (5.1%). HLN for living donors is a safe procedure and an effective alternative to open nephrectomy. In this series, the procedure displayed low morbidity after surgery, providing a good morphological and functional quality of the graft for the recipient.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Passive immunity against measles during the first 8 months of life of infants born to vaccinated mothers or to mothers who sustained measles.

Neutralizing antibody titers of 47 infants whose mothers sustained measles (measles group) and 70 whose mothers were vaccinated (vaccine group) were compared at birth, 4 and 8 months of age. All children had antibodies at birth and 88% at 4 months. At 8 months, 49% had antibodies in the measles group and 15% in the vaccine group (P < 0.001). The geometric mean titers were significantly lower in the vaccine group than in the measles group and the difference corresponded to the antibody loss occurring in only 1.5 months of life. This small difference may reflect past exposure to wild virus of many vaccinated mothers.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy and tolerability of the ifosfamide-epirubicin combination in relapsed ovarian cancer.

A retrospective study evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of epirubicin-ifosfamide (EI) in patients with relapsed advanced ovarian cancer (ROC) after prior chemotherapy was conducted. A total of 93 patients received epirubicin (50 mg/m(2), day 1), ifosfamide (1500 or 2500 mg/m(2), days 1-3), and mesna monthly. Thirty-five percent had received one line of chemotherapy (platinum 100%, taxanes 8%); 38%, two lines; and 27%, more than two lines. Fifty-three percent received 2500 mg/m(2)/day ifosfamide and 47% received 1500 mg/m(2)/day ifosfamide. Ifosfamide was administered by continuous infusion in 12 patients. Mean number of courses was 4 (1-12). Grade 4 toxicity was 69% neutropenia and 12% thrombocytopenia. Three patients on high-dose ifosfamide as a short infusion had central nervous system dysfunction resulting in death. There were 84 assessable patients: 7 (8%), complete responses; 13 (15%), partial responses; and 20 (24%), stable disease. Median time to progression was 5 months (3 days to 36 months). The EI combination appears to be effective in ROC. However, toxicity with high-dose ifosfamide administered by short infusion is not acceptable. Tolerability can be improved using ifosfamide at 1500 mg/m(2) by continuous infusion. The combination of ifosfamide with newer anthracycline agents such as liposomal doxorubicin may be an alternative and needs further evaluation for use after first-line taxane-based chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The Nissen fundus gastroplication combined with parietal cell vagectomy in the surgical treatment of hiatal hernia].

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Adult↗