We have previously shown that 3 week oral VOSO4 treatment of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats was able to correct diabetes for 13 weeks after treatment withdrawal. In the present study, we investigated whether a short-term (8 days) i.p. VOSO4 treatment was similarly able to reverse the diabetic state. Insulin secretory capacities were assessed at distance of treatment using the isolated pancreas preparation. Seven treatment-groups were performed: high dose VOSO4-treated diabetics (HVD, 1.3 mM/kg/8 days), food-restricted diabetics (FRD, food adjusted to HVD levels), low dose VOSO4-treated diabetes (LVD, 0.06 mM/kg/day), insulin-treated diabetics (ID, dose adjusted to normalize glycaemia) and VOSO4 (0.06 mM/kg/day) + insulin (dose adjusted to normalize glycaemia in the presence of vanadium)-treated diabetics (IVD), in addition to the corresponding untreated non-diabetic controls (C) and diabetics (D). Our results indicate that long-term correction of diabetes (a) can be obtained after an 8 day treatment using i.p. VOSO4 in diabetic animals retaining some degree of pancreatic function, (b) is not obtained with insulin treatment or food restriction although the association of VOSO4 and insulin was found beneficial, (c) can be prolonged in some individuals for at least 4 months, i.e. in conditions such that tissue vanadium concentrations had returned to values close to pre-treatment levels, (d) is associated with improved and in some cases normalized insulin secretion from isolated pancreas. The protective or corrective role of VOSO4 on diabetes-related pancreatic alterations, as well as the potential of the VOSO4-insulin association should be further studied in view of the possible use of vanadium derivatives in the treatment of diabetes.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytokines regulate the cellular phenotype of developing neural lineage species.

The patterns and mechanisms of action of inductive signals that orchestrate neural lineage commitment and differentiation in the mammalian brain are incompletely understood. To examine these developmental issues, we have utilized several culture systems including conditionally immortalized cell lines, subventricular zone progenitor cells and primary neuronal cultures. A neural stem and progenitor cell line (MK31) was established from murine embryonic hippocampus by retroviral transduction of temperature-sensitive alleles of the simian virus 40 large tumor antigen. At the non-permissive temperature for antigen expression (39 degrees C) in serum-free media, the neural stem cells give rise to a series of increasingly mature neuronal progenitor and differentiated cellular forms under the influence of a subset of hematolymphopoietic cytokines (interleukins 5, 7, 9 and 11), when individually co-applied with transforming growth factor alpha, after pretreatment with basic fibroblast growth factor. These cellular forms elaborated a series of progressively more mature neurofilament proteins, a sequential pattern of ligand-gated channels, and inward currents and generation of action potentials with mature physiological properties. Because the factors regulating the development of central nervous system astrocytes have been so difficult to define, we have chosen to focus, in this manuscript, on the elaboration of this cell type. At 39 degrees C, application of a subfamily of bone morphogenetic proteins of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of growth factors sanctioned the selective expression of astrocytic progenitor cells and mature astrocytes, as defined by sequential elaboration of the Yb subunit of glutathione-S-transferase and glial fibrillary acidic protein. These lineage-specific cytokine inductive relationships were verified using subventricular zone neural progenitor cells generated by the application of epidermal growth factor, alone or in combination with basic fibroblast growth factor, to dissociated cellular cultures derived from early embryonic murine brain, a normal non-transformed developmental population. Finally, application of a different series of cytokines from five distinct factor classes (basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-AA, insulin-like growth factor 1, neurotrophin 3 and representative gp130 receptor subunit-related ligands) caused the elaboration of oligodendroglial progenitor species and post-mitotic oligodendrocytes, defined by progressive morphological maturation and the expression of increasingly advanced oligodendroglial and oligodendrocyte lineage markers. In addition, seven different gp130-associated neuropoietic (ciliary neurotrophic factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin-M) and hematopoietic (interleukins 6, 11, 12, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) cytokines exhibited differential trophic effects on oligodendroglial lineage maturation and factor class interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

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Late diagnosis of hip dislocation in infants.

To determine the rate of late diagnosis of hip dislocations in infants, 26,455 newborns were examined by or under the supervision of the authors from 1976 to 1988. The incidence of examinations positive for dislocated or dislocatable hips was 3.8/1,000. The incidence of known late cases was 4/26,455 (0.2/1,000). Because follow-up of all initial examinations was not possible, this rate is probably artificially low. Hip screening programs with direct pediatric orthopaedic supervision can be successful, but late cases will still occur.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

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Cyclospora cayetanensis among expatriate and indigenous populations of West Java, Indonesia.

From January 1995 through July 1998, we investigated the occurrence of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection associated with gastrointestinal illness or diarrhea in foreign residents and natives of West Java, Indonesia. We found that C. cayetanensis was the main protozoal cause of gastrointestinal illness and diarrhea in adult foreign residents during the wet season. The parasite rarely caused illness in the indigenous population or in children.

Adult↗

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The evidence is overwhelming.

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Decision Making↗

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Appraising the evidence.

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Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

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Using evidence to make decisions.

Physicians sometimes question whether evidence-based medicine "is worth it." They rightfully feel they have been doing a pretty good job right along. This does indeed seem to be the case. Yet the world of medicine is changing rapidly--perhaps too rapidly for our previous habits to suffice. Resources are increasingly restricted even while technology grows explosively--the time, money, and availability of tests and treatments are no longer infinite. If we are to fight for the best decisions for our patients, we must be prepared to support our decisions with more than just opinions and anecdotes. The importance of medical ethics, common sense, and spirituality will not diminish for all this; indeed it may be enhanced as growing consensus on the evidence allows us to focus on the "non-evidence" aspects of our practices. The authors of this special issue of the Wisconsin Medical Journal hope that the concepts we have discussed will convince you to learn more about the important discipline of evidence-based medicine. It is an exciting paradigm for medicine in the coming millennium.

Decision Support Techniques↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Falsification of tetrazolium dye (MTT) based cytotoxicity assay results due to mycoplasma contamination of cell cultures.

Mycoplasma contamination of cell cultures is a frequently observed problem. Due to the inconspicuous growth in cell cultures, periodical screening procedures represent the only protection. Many influences of mycoplasma on cell culture parameters have been described. We addressed the question of whether mycoplasma contamination affects the most frequently used cytotoxicity assay, the tetrazolium based MTT assay. We contaminated C6 glioma cells with mycoplasma and performed MTT assays with doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide and cisplatinum under various conditions. Contaminated cells demonstrated significant different results when tested with the MTT assay than mycoplasma free controls. Differences were not detectable when cells were counted as toxicity assay. Due to an additional reduction of tetrazolium by mycoplasmas, contaminated cells appeared up to 15 fold resistant to doxorubicin, vincristine and etoposide, but not to cisplatinum. Differences decreased with decreasing drug doses and decreasing plated cell count. Our findings confirm the compelling need for periodical mycoplasma screening, especially when tetrazolium based cytotoxicity assay (MTT) are used.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Total drainage of the right lung into the right hepatic vein.

Report of a case oa anomalous venous drainage of the right lung into the right hepatic vein treated by disconnection of the anomalous pulmonary vein and end-to-side anastomosis to the left atrium. Following a review of 25 surgically treated patients with infracardiac drainage of the right lung the different surgical approaches are discussed.

Angiocardiography↗

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Effects of variable alphaprodine dose levels on arterial blood gases in rhesus monkeys.

The administration of alphaprodine submucosally in doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg to ketaminized rhesus monkeys resulted in Po(2) levels significantly lower than those observed for controls (ketamine only) at the 10 min level. There was a significant increase in Po(2) levels between the 10 and 20 min intervals, thereafter, Po(2) levels returned toward normal and were not statistically different from baseline. Higher alphaprodine doses (1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg) resulted in a non-significant increase in Pco(2) values. Monitoring Po(2) levels during sedation seems preferable to monitoring Pco(2) in view of the findings of this study.

Alphaprodine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury and other elements in seeds of Lupinus mutabilis and of other legumes.

Several species of legumes and varieties of lupins were examined for their heavy metal content in the seeds. Atomic absorption spectrometry was the main analytical tool. Validity and reproducibility of the results was checked by analyzing the same materials at two different laboratories performing the same technique. Additionally, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy was applied. In grains of Lupinus mutabilis which constitute a traditional food in Andean populations, the following contents of heavy metals were determined: 0.10-0.25 microgram/g Cd; 0.5-1.6 microgram/g Pb; 0.10-0.15 microgram/g Hg. Seeds of other legumes contained 0.05-0.35 microgram/g Cd; 0.1-0.2 microgram/g Pb; 0.01-0.04 microgram/g Hg. The high lead content of lupins is easily reduced to one tenth by traditional extraction with boiling water. The mercury content, too, is decreased by this technique. The high manganese content of 1 300-1,400 micrograms/g of Lupinus albus compared to other legumes (25-37 micrograms/g) seems to be characteristic for this species and may be of nutritional significance. The comparison of the heavy metal contents of legume seeds of different origin and variety indicates a complex pattern of environmental and genetic factors that contribute to the specific metal contents of individual harvests. On the level of varieties the environmental factors (climate, soil, geology, agricultural techniques) seem to exhibit more important influences on the specific accumulation of heavy metals than genetic factors. In contrast, on the level of species or genera, the accumulation of heavy metals seems to be dominated by genetic factors rather than by environmental influences.

Cadmium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The nutritional quality of Scenedesmus acutus in a semi-industrial plant in Peru.

The nutritional quality of the flour of the micro-algae Scenedesmus acutus produced in a semi-industrial pilot plant at Sausal, Peru has been tested. The protein content varies between 47.4% and 66.6%. The PER was 2.63 = 0.15 (Casein 3.00 = 0.11), true digestibility 83.4 (Casein 92.4) and BV 60.9 (Casein 73.4). The protein quality did not increase by amino acid supplementation. The 12-week feeding test with micro-algae led to no abnormalities of the weight development, blood parameters, weights of organs and histological datas in the test animals. Further feeding trials and clinical examination on human subjects are recommended before approvement for use in human diet.

Amino Acids↗

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Co-operation of thymus and bone marrow cells responding to dinitrophenyl in vivo: further studies on the cellular basis of the 'carrier effect'.

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Animals↗