[ZNF143 is involved in CTCF-mediated chromatin interactions by cooperation with cohesin and other partners].

ZNF143 is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor conserved in vertebrates and might regulate the expression of numerous genes. But its function in mediating chromatin interactions remains elusive. By integrated analysis of public datasets, we provided evidence that a majority of ZNF143 binding sites (BSs) were involved in CTCF-mediated chromatin interaction networks (CTCF-CINs) by overlapping with cohesin-BSs and CTCF-BSs. We further showed that only a very few CTCF-CINs were associated with ZNF143 alone, whereas those associated with ZNF143 and cohesin simultaneously were highly overlapped with constitutive, conserved CTCF-BSs and enriched at boundaries of chromatin topologically associating domains. These observations implicate that as an important partner of CTCF, ZNF143 helps it establish the conserved chromatin structure by cooperating with cohesin.

Bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide increases the sensitivity of leukemic cells to arsenic trioxide.

Cell culture, tissue chemistry and flow cytometry were used to determine whether antisense bcl-2 oligodeoxynucleotides enhanced the sensitivity of leukemia cells to arsenic trioxide. A combination of arsenic trioxide with antisense bcl-2 oligodeoxynucleotides inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis and induced bcl-2 protein expression in K562 and NB4 leukemic cells more significantly than either arsenic trioxide or the oligodeoxynucleotides on their own (P<0.01). Thus, bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides increase the sensitivity of leukemic cells to arsenic trioxide. Combined use of the two agents could be a novel and attractive strategy in leukemia treatment.

[Graft-versus-host disease and xenotransplantation].

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis, mechanism, manifestation and diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) are reviewed in this article. METHODS: The relevant articles in recent public magazines were reviewed and summarized. RESULTS: It was indicated that GVHD occurred in the conditioned recipients in animal experiments and clinical transplantations. Humoral and cellular factors were involved in GVHD, which could be diagnosed and classified according to their characteristics. CONCLUSION: As a kind of interactions between the host and donor, GVHD are severely harmful to the host. It may also occur in xenotransplantation, where GVHD can be utilized in the studies on transplant immunology, oncology etc. Xenogeneic GVHD is receiving more and more attentions.

Direct and indirect costs of chickenpox in young children.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the medical and economic or societal costs of chickenpox in young children using a descriptive study METHODS: Children under 5 years of age attending 124 Sydney childcare centres who were reported as having chickenpox were studied to assess the costs of medication use and medical consultations, days of care missed, and parental costs resulting from lost time from work and alternate childcare costs. RESULTS: There were 174 children (92 girls and 79 boys; in three the sex was not stated) who missed a mean of 5.5 days of care because of chickenpox, currently valued at $154. Medical costs were valued at $33 per child, based on 0.97 medical visits, and topical and oral medication. Labour costs resulting from parental work absenteeism were valued at $160 or $345 depending on the method of calculation, whilst direct economic costs of $24 were incurred through use of alternate childcare arrangements. Total costs including those incurred by secondary cases and by rare hospitalisations were in the range of $393-$578 per affected child. CONCLUSIONS: Medical costs of chickenpox in children are small relative to costs incurred as a result of parental work absenteeism and to costs of foregone childcare. Ascribing precise work-related costs should take into account some capacity to make up lost work time. Such data will be required when determining the cost-benefit of childhood varicella immunisation.

[Topography of intraabdominal supra and infra-hepatic IVC and its application in hepatectomy].

Topographic study of infra-diaphragmatic and supra-hepatic IVC (ISIVC) was made in 16 fresh adult cadavers. The diameter and length of ISIVC averaged 35.94 +/- 5.68 mm and 16.87 +/- 5.14 mm respectively, hence making band-blockade of the ISIVC is practical. In clinical application, 21 cases of liver cancer involving the second or third hepatic hilus underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy with temporary band-blocking of the ISIVC, the infrahepatic IVC and the first hepatic hilus to prevent or to treat massive bleeding. In 3 of the 21 cases, the middle hepatic vein was inadvertently torn and was successfully suture repaired with this way.

Evaluation of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as an elemental detector for supercritical fluid chromatography.

Supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry shows high potential for the determination at ultratrace levels of organometallic compounds of environmental interest. In this study the determination of organotin compounds at ultratrace levels is demonstrated. In this work a supercritical fluid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SFC/ICPMS) interface was developed. Separation of tetraalkyltin compounds shows detection levels in the subpicogram range (0.034 pg for tetrabutyltin; 0.047 pg for tetraphenyltin). The linear ranges are over 3 orders magnitude (1-1000 pg). The reproducibility of sample injections are better than 5% RSD.

Omental autotransplantation in treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans.

From 1981 to 1985, omental autotransplantation was performed for 28 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans on the left lower extremities in 16 patients, the right ones 11, and the right upper limb 1. The early results in all patients were satisfactory. In 19 patients followed up from 1 to 4 years, the results were encouraging, with the improvement of symptoms after operation. In 18 patients, digital ulcers healed within 2-4 weeks. Doppler and electrical impedance plethysmography examinations showed the blood circulation of affected extremities was markedly improved in the 18 patients except one who had the recurrence of digital ulcer 2 years later. In one of the 19 patients the disease recurred one month after the operation, and a lumbar sympathectomy was performed. The indications, the operative technique, and the mechanism of this operation are discussed.