Increased radiosensitivity in cells of two human cell lines treated with bystander medium from irradiated repair-deficient cells.

Radiation-induced bystander factors have been shown to be more toxic if they are from medium harvested from irradiated repair-deficient cells. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the radiosensitivity of repair-proficient cells can be increased by exposing them to medium-borne factors harvested from sensitive cells and vice versa. Cells from a mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient cell line (Raji 10) with a sensitive response to radiation or the wild-type parent cell line were irradiated to 0.5 Gy gamma rays and then monitored for growth rate in their own medium or in the alternative conditioned medium. In other experiments, cells or conditioned medium were added to reporter cells (HPV-G, which are relatively sensitive keratinocytes, or highly radioresistant HT29 cells). The subsequent responses of the two cell lines to a 0.5-Gy dose of (60)Co gamma rays were measured. The results show that prior exposure of resistant cells to medium from irradiated sensitive cells reduced the clonogenic survival of the subsequently irradiated resistant cells. The reverse is also true. Measurement of the apoptosis index and BCL2 expression confirmed that the harvested medium was capable of modulating apoptosis after irradiation. This may have important applications in tumor therapy and also in the understanding of mechanisms involved in induction of adaptive responses.

Allelotyping defines minimal imbalance at chromosomal region 17q25 in non-serous epithelial ovarian cancers.

Allelic deletions of multiple chromosome 17q loci in sporadic ovarian cancer of epithelial origin suggest that inactivation of tumor suppressor gene(s) in these regions may be important for ovarian tumorigenesis. To further define the pattern of allelic imbalance in epithelial ovarian tumors of different histologies, a PCR-based assay was used to assess loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of polymorphic markers representative of TP53, BRCA1, NME1 and GH1, and region 17q23-25. LOH was observed for at least one marker in 68% of malignant tumors (n=60) and in 18% tumors of borderline malignancy (n=11), but not in benign tumors (n=5). The highest frequency of LOH in malignant tumors (64%) was observed with D17S801 on 17q25. Ten of 39 malignant ovarian tumors displaying LOH of at least one 17q marker, displayed a LOH pattern enabling the determination of a minimal region of overlapping deletion defined by D17S795 and D17S801. One borderline tumor also displayed an interstitial LOH pattern that overlapped this 17q25 minimal region of deletion. The histologies of malignant tumors displaying a pattern indicative of interstitial 17q deletions were of the endometrioid, clear cell and mucinous epithelial types. As the minimal region of overlap defined by these tumors overlap regions deleted in malignant tumors of all histologic types, and in a tumor of borderline malignancy, the 17q25-tumor suppressor may be implicated in the development of all types of epithelial ovarian tumors.

Mapping of chromosome 3p deletions in human epithelial ovarian tumors.

Epithelial ovarian tumors frequently display deletions on the short arm of chromosome 3 suggesting the existence of tumor suppressor genes within the deleted regions. We have recently established a primary tissue culture system as a model to investigate the genetic events associated with ovarian cancer. The frequencies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 16 loci representative of chromosome 3p in 33 tumor biopsies and 47 ovarian primary cultures derived from unselected ovarian cancers were examined. This repertoire also included benign and borderline tumors as well as malignant ovarian ascites. LOH was observed in 25 (31%) samples for at least one marker: 21 of 58 malignant, two of 12 borderline and two of 10 benign specimens. Chromosome 3p loss was not restricted to ovarian tumors of high grade and stage. LOH was observed in both cultured and non cultured tumors and ascites. A spontaneously immortalized cell line derived from a malignant ovarian ascites, OV-90, displayed LOH of the majority of markers suggesting loss of one homolog of chromosome 3p. The pattern of deletion displayed by these 25 samples enabled the determination of at least two distinct regions of overlapping deletions on chromosome 3p extending from D3S1270 to D3S1597 and from D3S1293 to D3S1283. In addition, a region proximal to D3S1300 was deleted in a subset of samples. Although loss of loci overlapping these three regions (Regions I, II and III) were observed in malignant and benign tumors, in borderline tumors loss was observed of markers representative of Region III only. While RARbeta is presently included in Region II, the minimal regions of deletion exclude VHL, TGFBR2, PTPase(gamma) and FHIT as candidate tumor suppressors in ovarian tumorigenesis.

Standardized assessment of personality disorders in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

We assessed 96 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder for DSM-III personality disorder diagnoses with a standardized interview instrument (Structured Interview for the DSM-III Personality Disorders). Fifty patients (52%) met criteria for at least one personality disorder, with mixed, dependent, and histrionic personality disorders most frequently diagnosed. Compulsive personality disorder was diagnosed in only 6 patients (6%), 5 of whom had had onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms before the age of 10 years, indicating that DSM-III compulsive personality disorder is not invariably a premorbid condition for the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Schizotypal personality disorder, at 5%, was found to be less common than in past samples, reflecting differences in either assessment methods or sampling.

Depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate as a contraceptive.

PIP: To test its effectiveness as a contraceptive, 150 mg of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) was administered every 3 months to 752 women for 44 consecutive cycles. Side effects were similar to those seen with other contraceptive agents, the major one being irregular bleeding. During the course of this experiment, ethinyl was administered orally for 7 days of each month. This treatment improved the regularity of bleeding cycles. Although 450 women discontinued usage of DMPA for both drug-related and non-drug-related reasons, this study still showed DMPA to be an effective contraceptive. Only one method-failure occurred during 10,000 months of use; 75% of the women conceived within 12 months after discontinuing DMPA; 1 patient developed a questionable case of thrombophlebitis, but no cases of thromboembolic phenomenon were reported. DMPA, then, is regarded as an effective contraceptive that appears to inhibit the pituitary release of gonadotropins, and to alter the cervical mucus.^ieng

Pelvic fluid collections by sonography and febrile morbidity after abdominal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the range of normal findings at endovaginal sonography after abdominal hysterectomy and to assess the relationship these findings and febrile morbidity. METHODS: Fifty-eight women had endovaginal ultrasound at a median of 4 days after abdominal hysterectomy. The volume of fluid in the cul-de-sac and its sonographic characteristics were assessed. Ultrasound findings, which were not released to the patients' physicians, were correlated with febrile morbidity and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The median pelvic fluid volume was 3.4 mL (interquartile range 0-16.8 mL). No pelvic fluid was detected in 22 of 58 women (37.9%). In the other 36 women, fluid volumes ranged between 0.2 and 76.3 mL. Febrile morbidity was present in 15 of 58 women (26%) overall: eight of 36 (25%) with and seven of 22 (32%) without pelvic fluid. There was no association between the presence of pelvic fluid collections and febrile morbidity (P = .54) or prolonged fever (P = 1.00). There was no difference in the median or mean fluid volumes between women with and without febrile morbidity. The study had a power of 90% with alpha = .05 to detect a difference of 20 mL. Even women with fixed, markedly echoic fluid collections larger than 35 mL did not have significantly more febrile morbidity than women with no pelvic fluid (P = .33). CONCLUSION: The volume of pelvic fluid 3-5 days after hysterectomy does not predict febrile morbidity or the need for drainage. Large or complex fluid collections may be present without adverse clinical consequences, and discovering such a collection in a patient with febrile morbidity after hysterectomy does not necessitate antibiotic therapy or surgical drainage of the fluid collection.

Cervical flexion, extension, protrusion, and retraction. A radiographic segmental analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: A lateral radiographic analysis of the cervical spine was performed on 20 asymptomatic volunteers. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the contribution of each cervical segment to each of four sagittal cervical end-range positions: full-length flexion, full-length extension, protrusion, and retraction. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Recent clinical research supports the relevance of cervical protrusion and retraction in symptomatic patients. Currently, few quantitative studies are available regarding cervical protrusion and retraction. METHODS: Lateral cervical radiographs of 20 asymptomatic volunteers for four test positions and a neutral position were collected. Mean angular measurements and available ranges of motion were calculated from the occiput to C7. RESULTS: Retraction consists of lower cervical extension and upper cervical flexion, whereas protrusion consists of lower cervical flexion and upper cervical extension. Full-length cervical flexion produced more flexion at lower segments than did protrusion, and full-length cervical extension produced more extension at lower segments than did retraction. With both full-length flexion and retraction, upper cervical segments are positioned in the flexion portion of their total range, but only retraction takes Occ-C1 and C1-C2 to their full end-range of flexion. Similarly, with both full-length extension and protrusion, upper cervical segments are positioned in the extension portion of their total range, but only protrusion takes Occ-C1 and C1-C2 to their end-range of extension. CONCLUSION: A greater range of motion at Occ-C1 and C1-C2 was found for the protruded and retracted positions compared with the full-length flexion and full-length extension positions. Effects on cervical symptoms reported to occur in response to flexion, extension, protrusion, and retraction test movements may correspond with the position of lower cervical segments.

Continuing education: an attitudinal survey of physical therapists.

A descriptive study of 903 physical therapists located primarily in southeastern United States was undertaken to determine their attitudes toward continuing education and the types of course offerings they desired. A majority of physical therapists kept themselves up-to-date in professional practice, mainly through discussion with colleagues, study groups, and inservice training sessions. The continuing education courses they preferred were comparatively recent topics in physical therapy education--such as musculoskeletal assessment and mobilization--specific neurophysiological approaches to treatment of adults and children, and administration. The study also revealed the preferred schedule, length, type, and cost of continuing education courses, as well as the amount of advance notice preferred and willingness to complete preassigned readings. The main problem that respondents had in participating in continuing education was that courses did not fit into their schedules. A majority of respondents favored mandatory continuing education for relicensure.

Mandatory continuing education or periodic reexamination?

A descriptive study of physical therapists located primarily in the southeastern United States was undertaken to determine their opinions concerning mandatory continuing education or reexamination for license renewal. A majority of the 1,187 respondents favored continuing education rather than reexamination. Of those favoring continuing education, a majority prefer a yearly minimum requirement of at least 10 hours, a three-year review cycle, a sharing of costs by therapists and employers, provision of courses by the national association, approval of courses by the district or state association, and awarding of credit for demonstrated improved performance at the course. Of those favoring periodic reexamination, a majority preferred a five-year cycle, self-assessment methods available prior to reexamination, a sharing of costs by therapists and government, and an oral examination that the national association would compose but academic institutions administer. Both groups favor probationary status for noncompliance. Based on the findings, some implications for adoption and implementation of either system for the physical therapy profession are discussed.

The effect of position and speed on ankle plantarflexion in females.

This study was undertaken to determine isokinetic plantarflexion strength at various speeds and positions on a Cybex II+ dynamometer. A second purpose of this study was to identify any relationship between calf circumference and strength. Speeds used were 0, 30, and 180 degrees /sec. Positions used were supine with 0 degrees knee extension, supine with 90 degrees knee flexion, and prone with 0 degrees knee extension. Speeds and positions are randomly ordered. Nineteen female subjects were classified as either trained (N = 9) or untrained (N = 10). Plantarflexion strength was greatest in the supine position with 0 degrees knee extension in each of the three speeds tested. The results of a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance test were significant across all speeds occurring only with the trained group at a speed of 0 degrees /sec. Further comparisons of position with other speeds were not significant. Since plantarflexion torques were higher in the supine position with 0 degrees knee extension with a speed of 30 degrees /sec, clinicians might want to use this position and speed to test ankle plantarflexion torque. The relationship between calf circumference and torque was not significant. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1990;12(4):153-156.

Creating a collage: a meaningful interactive classroom strategy.

How can students be helped to make personal meaning of their nursing knowledge? The author describes one strategy, that of creating a collage, that promoted interactive learning and the making of meaning.

Use of the interview in admissions.

A description of one method of dealing with nonacademic information from applicants seeking acceptance into a physical therapy curriculum is presented. The strengths of this admission process are interviewer training sessions, use of simulated interviews presented by videotape, subsequent discussion of ratings, specific criteria to support interview ratings, and an arbitration procedure. Attempts were made to increase the objectivity of the interview through frequent meetings of the admission committee to decide on the areas of the interview and specific criteria on which to rate each area. In the areas of weighting factors, training of interviewers, development of specific interview criteria, arbitration procedure, and the use of the computer printout, this admission process could be easily adapted to other allied health programs. Details of the interview are discussed.