[EFFECT OF ANTI-CANCER DRUG DOXORUBICINE ON CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTED HUMAN FIBROBLASTS].

The anticancer antibiotic doxorubicine (DOX) is highly toxic and induces functional complications in vital organs. The effect of DOX on normal cells has not been examined in sufficient detail, and the search for compounds reducing DOX toxicity did not lead to success so far. It has been suggested that DOX induces death of cancer cells via p53-dependent apoptosis, however, the information regarding the role of p73 protein, a member of p53 tumor suppressor family, is scanty. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) induces an antiapoptosis program that allows its replication until death of the target cell. Our objectives were to examine the effect of DOX on normal cells (human fibroblasts), analyze the ability of CMV-induced antiapoptosis program to reduce DOX toxicity, and to evaluate the involvement of p73 protein and its isoforms in the regulation of death of CMV-infected and DOX-treated cells. Within a 24-h time period DOX caused death of about 70% human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF) in cell culture, this parameter decreased significantly in CMV-infected DOX-treated HELF cells. TUNEL has shown that the number of cells with DNA fragmentation decreases from 5.2% under the effect of DOX to 3.2% (P < 0.05) after combined CMV-DOX treatment. Analysis of mitotic figures revealed that DOX causes accumulation of mitotic cells, which was not observed in CMV-infected DOX-treated cells. PCR analysis of mRNA of two p73 protein isoforms (TAp73 and dNp73) has shown that in uninfected cells the expression of TAp73 isoform was low, while in CMV-infected cells level of TAp73 was significant and expression of dNp73 was demonstrated for the first time. Expression of TAp73 associated with lack of mitosis block. The activation of caspases 8, 9 and 3 in CMV-infected cells was registered but cell death was not, however, as massive as that caused by DOX. From these findings it can be concluded that CMV attenuates DOX-related damage to normal cells. It can be suggested that induction of TAp73 and dNp73 isoforms provides conditions for reduction of DOX effect which leads to DNA damage and death of normal cells.

Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anecdotal reports on the efficacy of secretin in autism raised great hopes for the treatment of children with this disorder. Initial single-dose, randomized, controlled trials failed to demonstrate any therapeutic effects of secretin. The present study is the first to test the outcome of repeated doses and to examine whether there is a subgroup of children who are more likely to achieve positive effects. METHOD: Sixty-four children with autism (ages 2-7 years; 55 boys and 9 girls) with a range of intelligence quotient and verbal ability were randomly assigned, in a double-blind manner, to secretin or placebo groups. Children received 2 doses of placebo or porcine secretin, 6 weeks apart. Assessments were performed at baseline and 3 weeks after each injection using several outcome measures. RESULTS: There were no group differences on formal measures of language, cognition, or autistic symptomatology. Subgroupings based on cognitive level, the presence or absence of diarrhea, or a history of regression failed to show any significant therapeutic effects of secretin. CONCLUSION: No evidence is provided for the efficacy of repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of children with autism. The possible relationship between relief of biological symptoms and enhanced skill performance is discussed.

Prevalence and severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and effect of vitamin supplementation.

OBJECTIVE: Although nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is the most common medical condition during pregnancy, there are many unanswered questions regarding its cause, epidemiologic features and optimal management. The objectives of this study were to ascertain the prevalence of nausea and vomiting in a sample of Canadian women, to characterize the distribution of their severity and to investigate the role of vitamin B6 deficiency in their etiology. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Antenatal counselling service for pregnant women. PATIENTS: Three cohorts of women: a prospective, population-based cohort of 193 women, to estimate the rate and severity of nausea and vomiting (cohort A); a cohort of 555 women who sought advice for nausea with or without vomiting, to study the correlation between the maximal daily number of episodes of vomiting and maximal weight loss (cohort B); and a prospective cohort of 301 women who reported vomiting, to correlate vitamin supplementation with vomiting (cohort C). INTERVENTIONS: All 3 cohorts were interviewed during the counselling session, and cohort B was followed up prospectively. OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of nausea and vomiting, weight loss, maximal number of daily episodes of vomiting, rate of multivitamin supplementation. RESULTS: Overall, 67% of the women in cohort A reported experiencing nausea or vomiting, or both; 22% reported vomiting, and 9% experienced weight loss. In cohort B there was a significant correlation between the maximal number of daily episodes of vomiting and maximal weight loss, although there was wide variation (r2 = 0.25, p < 0.001). There was a highly significant correlation between the number of daily vomiting episodes and mean weight loss (r2 = 0.99). In cohort C, vomiting was significantly associated with lack of supplementation with multivitamins before 6 weeks' gestation (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The relation between number of daily vomiting episodes and mean weight loss may serve as a clinical tool to assess the severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and the success of anti-emetics and rehydration regimens. Further study is needed to elucidate the biologic basis of the observed association between vomiting and lack of multivitamin supplementation in early pregnancy.