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Experiment was conducted to determine whether bile acids have a facilitatory role during the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids in dogs. Increased hepatic ALP activity was induced in four dogs through daily injections of 4 mg-kg-1.day-1 of prednisone for 10 days. Intravenous infusions of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) were given before treatment and on treatment days 3, 5, 7 and 10 to induce gallbladder emptying and the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Results suggest that bile acids may play a facilitatory role in the enzymatic release of ALP.

A novel synthetic process involving the reaction of 5-lithio-2-chloropyridine and (+)- and (-)-N-BOC-7-azabicyclo(2.2.1)heptan-2-one leads to the formation of epibatidine. X-ray crystal structure study reveals the configuration to be 1R, 2R,4S. The pyridyl group at C-2 is present in the C-2 exo-orientation configuration.

Paul R. Josephson. Motorized Obsessions: Life, Liberty, and the Small-Bore Engine. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007. Pp. 258. Appendix. Index. Notes. Cloth, $22.00. Paul R. Josephson's wide-ranging history of [...]

Abstract Background In parts of Great Britain and Ireland, Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) constitute a reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis infection and a potential source of infection for cattle. In vitro diagnostic tests for live badgers are an important component of strategies to control TB in this species. Immunological tests have been developed for badgers, although little is known about the influence of the age of the animal on test performance. To address this, we evaluated the performance of three immunological tests for badgers with respect to the age of the animal: the Brock Test and BrockTB STAT-PAK® serological tests and the recently developed interferon-gamma enzyme immunoassay (IFNγ EIA). Data published elsewhere suggested that seropositivity was associated with more progressive forms of TB in the badger. To gain further evidence for this, we used longitudinal data from a well-studied population of badgers to test for an association between the sensitivity of the Brock Test and the duration of TB infection. Results Sensitivity of the two serological tests was approximately 54% for both cubs and adults. Sensitivity of the IFNγ EIA was lower in cubs (57%) compared with adults (85%) when a common cut-off value was used to define test positivity. Taking data from the cubs alone, the IFNγ EIA cut-off value could be adjusted to increase the sensitivity to 71% with no loss in specificity. As a general observation, specificity of all tests was higher in cubs, although only significantly so in the case of the Brock Test. Using logistic regression analysis to adjust for age, sensitivity of the Brock Test was significantly lower at first culture positive event (58%), but increased to >80% as infection progressed. Conclusion These data suggest that serodiagnosis could be a valuable tool for detecting a higher proportion of badgers with the greatest probability of transmitting infection. The age category of the badger appeared to exert little influence on the performance of the serological tests. Although data were only available for the IFNγ EIA in a small number of cubs, reduced sensitivity of the test in these individuals suggests a lower cut-off may be needed when testing younger animals.

Sarah Carpenter and Meg Twycross, Masks and Masking in Medieval and Early, Tudor England, Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002). 418 pp.; 32 plates, 14 figures. [...]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence/severity of self-reported trismus, determine association with quality of life (QOL), and examine clinical risk factors in a large population of patients treated for oropharyngeal cancer. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survivorship survey was conducted among patients who completed definitive treatment for oropharyngeal carcinoma, disease-free ≥ 1-year post-treatment (median survival, 7 years among 892 survivors). Associations between trismus and QOL were also analyzed using MDASI-HN, EQ-5D, and MDADI. Dietary and feeding tube status were also correlated to trismus status. Results: Trismus was self-reported in 31%. Severity of trismus positively correlated (r = 0.29) with higher mean interference scores reflecting a moderate association with quality of life (p < 0.0001). There was a negative correlation for MDADI composite scores (r = − 0.33) indicating increased perceived dysphagia related to trismus severity (p < 0.0001). EQ-5D VAS scores were also negatively correlated with trismus severity (r = − 0.26, p < 0.0001). Larger T-stage (p ≤ 0.001), larger nodal stage (p = 0.03), tumor sub-site (p = 0.05), and concurrent chemoradiation (p = 0.01) associated with increased prevalence of trismus. Diet negatively correlated (r = − 0.27) with trismus severity (p = < 0.0001), and survivors with severe trismus were also more likely to be feeding tube-dependent. Conclusion: Severity of trismus appears to negatively impact quality of life and associate with various adverse functional outcomes in long-term oropharyngeal cancer survivorship. Trismus remains associated with advanced disease stages, tumor sub-site (tonsil), and addition of chemotherapy. Further investigation is merited for the dose-effect relationship to the muscles of mastication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]