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AimsTo investigate the cytotoxicity of beta-lapachone, a potent agent that may selectively target tumour cells, in retinoblastoma (RB) cell lines.MethodsGrowth inhibitory effects of beta-lapachone were evaluated in Y79, WERI-RB1, and RBM human retinoblastoma cell lines. Pro-apoptotic effects of beta-lapachone were evaluated in Y79 cells by detection of caspase 3/7 activity, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for nucleosome fragments, and by cellular morphological analysis.ResultsBeta-lapachone induced significant dose-dependent growth inhibitory effects in all three retinoblastoma cell lines. The 50% growth inhibitory concentration (IC50) of this agent was 1.9 μM in Y79 cells, 1.3 μM in WERI-RB1 cells, and 0.9 μM in RBM cells. Beta-lapachone also induced proapoptotic effects in RB cells. Treatment of Y79 cells with 1.9 μM beta-lapachone (IC50) resulted in a peak, fourfold induction of caspase 3/7 activity at 72 h post-treatment; a peak, 5.6-fold increase in nucleosome fragments at 96 h post-treatment; and a peak, 1.7-fold increase in the frequency of apoptotic cells at 48 h post-treatment, relative to vehicle-treated controls.ConclusionBeta-lapachone induced potent cytotoxic effects in RB cell lines at low micromolar concentrations, suggesting this agent could be useful in the clinical management of RB.Eye (2008) 22, 454–460; doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702764; published online 16 March 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 58-year-old woman suffering from drowsiness, altered sensorium and irritability. The patient was examined to have herpetic skin lesions on the right abdomen indicating a chronic kidney disease (CKD) managed through dialysis and medication. Furthermore, a 500 mg dose of valacyclovir was also administered once per day.

Background/aim: Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent, has demonstrated potent anticancer effects in preclinical studies and in human clinical trials. To evaluate the potential utility of this agent in the treatment of retinoblastoma, the authors investigated the effects of celecoxib in retinoblastoma cell lines and in a murine model of this disease. Methods: Growth inhibitory effects of celecoxib were evaluated in Y79 and Weri-RB1 human retinoblastoma cell lines by WST-1 cell proliferation assay. For animal study, two groups of 24, 8 week old LHβ-TAg transgenic mice were treated with celecoxib (250 mg/kg, orally once a day) or vehicle control, 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Mice were sacrificed on day 43. Enucleated eyes were serially sectioned and ocular tumour burden was quantified by histopathological analysis. Results: Celecoxib did not inhibit proliferation of Y79 or Weri-RB1 cells, even at concentrations far exceeding clinically achievable levels. No significant difference in ocular tumour burden between celecoxib treated and control mice (p = 0.73) was found. Conclusion: Celecoxib was ineffective at inhibiting proliferation of retinoblastoma cells in vitro and was ineffective at controlling retinoblastoma tumour growth in a murine model of this disease. On the basis of these findings, oral celecoxib therapy is unlikely to have clinical utility in the treatment of retinoblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) wire insulation ignition is investigated in a forced flow field in microgravity and normal gravity with a continuous current. First, FEP insulation melts and decomposes, causing jet bursting in both normal gravity and microgravity. Second, the forced flow and gravity produce minor effects on the core heating and bursting time, while the pyrolysis time increases slightly with increasing air velocity. Third, the positively stretch rates in terms of the velocity gradients are higher in microgravity. Both the forced flow and gravity have significant effects on the induction time, which is dependent on the stretch rate and Damköhler number. The induction time increases with increasing air velocity, and it is higher in microgravity. Finally, the ignition delay time is dominated by the core heating and bursting time, while its bigger value and faster increase in microgravity with increasing air velocity are dominated by the induction time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many industrial combustion devices rely on jet flame combustion in the crossflow to achieve mixing and reaction. Previous research offers a limited predictive capability regarding the coupling effects of the crossflow and jet flow on the flame radiative fraction. In this work, a new theoretical equation is derived to relate the radiative fraction to the fuel flow rate and the crossflow velocity. The experimental results show that the flame length increases as the crossflow velocity increases for all considered flames. The results of this work suggest that the stretching factor is 0.08 s. The radiative fraction is almost independent of the nozzle diameter in the case of a low crossflow velocity. The crossflow has the strongest effect on the radiative fraction for a smaller nozzle diameter. This is because of the effect of the crossflow and jet flow velocities on the soot residence time, which is proportional to the radiative fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Multinodular goitre is probably the most common endocrine problem in the world today. Neither a well formulated nor a simple procedure is available for the management of MNG, hence the need for the present study. The aim was to study the various modes of presentation, the distribution with respect to age and sex and the usefulness of histological evaluation. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 100 cases of thyroid lesions during the period of April 2009 to October 2010. Results: Adenomatous goiter was found to be the commonest lesion with a frequency of 52 cases (52%).Most of the patients were female accounting for 90.39%. Most of the cases (53.85%) were noted in 21-40 years age group. Commonest presentation was swelling in front of the neck noted in 98% of cases. Conclusion: Commonest histological observation in the present study was adenomatous goitre in 52%. Majority of the patients were females with a M:F ratio of 1:9.4, with the commonest age group being 31-40 yrs. Almost all patients presented with swelling in front of the neck, with other complaints being that of pain, discomfort, dysphagia, dyspnoea and features of hyperthyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is a psychiatric emergency. Stressors in life and social variables (like marital status, family, and social support) are among the determinants of suicide. Hopelessness and suicidal intent are among the psychological variables that have shown promise in the prediction of suicide. Aims and Objectives: To assess stressful life events, hopelessness, suicidal intent, and sociodemographic variables in patients of attempted suicide. Materials and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients admitted with attempted suicide were interviewed. Presumptive Stressful Life Event Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Beck Suicidal Intent Scale were used along with a semistructured pro forma for interview. Data were analyzed with statistical tests. Results: Sixty-six percent of the participants were females, 72% were less than 30 years of age. Sixty-six percent of the patients had stressful life event score between 101 and 200 with the mean score of 127. The stressful life event score in those who considered they are in need of psychiatric help was significantly high. Most of the patients had mild (34%) and moderate (40%) degrees of hopelessness, and the mean score was 9.64. The mean suicidal intent in the participants was 25.14, when correlated with hopelessness score significant positive correlation was found. Conclusion: Lethality of the attempt increases with the increase in hopelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the cytotoxicity of beta-lapachone, a potent agent that may selectively target tumour cells, in retinoblastoma (RB) cell lines.Methods: Growth inhibitory effects of beta-lapachone were evaluated in Y79, WERI-RB1, and RBM human retinoblastoma cell lines. Pro-apoptotic effects of beta-lapachone were evaluated in Y79 cells by detection of caspase 3/7 activity, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for nucleosome fragments, and by cellular morphological analysis.Results: Beta-lapachone induced significant dose-dependent growth inhibitory effects in all three retinoblastoma cell lines. The 50% growth inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of this agent was 1.9 microM in Y79 cells, 1.3 microM in WERI-RB1 cells, and 0.9 microM in RBM cells. Beta-lapachone also induced proapoptotic effects in RB cells. Treatment of Y79 cells with 1.9 microM beta-lapachone (IC(50)) resulted in a peak, fourfold induction of caspase 3/7 activity at 72 h post-treatment; a peak, 5.6-fold increase in nucleosome fragments at 96 h post-treatment; and a peak, 1.7-fold increase in the frequency of apoptotic cells at 48 h post-treatment, relative to vehicle-treated controls.Conclusion: Beta-lapachone induced potent cytotoxic effects in RB cell lines at low micromolar concentrations, suggesting this agent could be useful in the clinical management of RB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a rare angiodestructive lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) of uncertain etiology, with prominent pulmonary involvement. Recent studies indicate that LYG is an Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated B cell LPD with large numbers of background reactive T lymphocytes (T cell-rich B cell lymphoma). Although the disease frequently, but not exclusively, occurs in various immunodeficiency states, it has not been reported in association with the transient immunosuppression following autologous bone marrow/peripheral stem cell transplantation (ABM/PSCT). We describe a patient who developed lymphomatoid granulomatosis of the lung approximately 2 weeks after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma. Although molecular studies showed no evidence of EBV genome in the biopsy material, the serologic profile with high IgM titers was suggestive of primary EBV infection. Complete radiologic remission occurred following reconstitution of the patient’s immune response after a 2-week course of ganciclovir treatment. Despite the apparently low frequency of LPD (both LYG and EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoma) in the ABMT setting, we believe that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients whose clinical course following ABMT is complicated by fevers, in the absence of an identifiable infectious process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]