By the mean of a prospective multicenter observational study (East German Gastric Cancer Study - EGGCS), 1 139 consecutive patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in 80 East German surgical ...departments from January 1 to December 31, 2002. Out of them, 1,031 (90.5%) underwent surgical intervention. The resection rate was 86.4% (n = 891); the R0 resection rate (n = 726) was 81.5%. Gastrectomy was performed in 79.8 % (n = 649) of subjects with radical resections (n = 813). In approximately 70 % of the interventions with curative intention, lymph node resection of the D2 compartment was carried out. The postoperative hospital mortality was 8.3%. The results were compared with the data obtained in the German Gastric Cancer Study (GGCS 1992); relevant differences and aspects were discussed.
The nine-membered −CuII−N−N−3 ring of trimeric copper−pyrazolato complexes provides a sturdy framework on which water is twice deprotonated in consecutive steps, forming μ3-OH and μ3-O species. In ...the presence of excess chlorides the μ3-O(H) ligand is replaced by two μ3-Cl ions. The interconversion of μ3-OH and μ3-O and the exchange of μ3-O(H) and μ3-Cl are reversible, and the three species involved have been structurally characterized: PPNCu3(μ3-OH)(μ-pz)3Cl3(thf)·CH2Cl2 (1a), monoclinic P21/n, a = 10.055(2) Å, b = 35.428(5) Å, c = 15.153(2) Å, β = 93.802(3)°, V = 5386(1) Å3, Z = 4; Bu4NCu3(μ3-OH)(μ-pz)3Cl3 (1b), triclinic P-1, a = 9.135(2) Å, b = 13.631(2) Å, c = 14.510(2) Å, α = 67.393(2)°, β = 87.979(2)°, γ = 80.268(3)°, V = 1643.2(4) Å3, Z = 2; PPN2Cu3(μ3-O)(μ-pz)3Cl3 (2), monoclinic P2/c, a = 12.807(2) Å, b = 13.093(2) Å, c = 23.139(4) Å, β = 105.391(3)°, V = 3741(1) Å3, Z = 2; PPN2Cu3(μ3-Cl)2(μ-pz)3Cl3·0.75H2O·0.5CH2Cl2 (3a), triclinic P-1, a = 14.042(2) Å, b = 23.978(4) Å, c = 25.195(4) Å, α = 76.796(3)°, β = 79.506(3)°, γ = 77.629(3)°, V = 7988(2) Å3, Z = 4; Bu4N2Cu3(μ3-Cl)2(μ-pz)3Cl3 (3b), monoclinic C2/c, a = 17.220(2) Å, b = 15.606(2) Å, c = 20.133(2) Å, β = 103.057(2)°, V = 5270(1) Å3, Z = 4; Et3NHCu3(μ3-OH)(μ-pz)3Cl3(pzH) (4), triclinic P-1, a = 11.498(2) Å, b = 11.499(2) Å, c = 12.186(2) Å, α = 66.475(3)°, β = 64.279(3)°, γ = 80.183(3)°, V = 1331.0(5) Å3, Z = 2. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the three copper centers of 2 are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled with J Cu - Cu = −500 cm-1.
Two high-density media, Percoll (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) and Nycodenz (Nyegaard & Co., Oslo, Norway), were assessed for efficacy of selection of motile spermatozoa from oligozoospermic and ...asthenozoospermic semen samples. The results indicated initially that the media were equivalent for motile sperm selection. However, only the spermatozoa selected from discontinuous Nycodenz gradients retained their motility for at least 21 hours (60% motility compared with 5% motility). A significantly higher number of motile spermatozoa were harvested from discontinuous Nycodenz gradients than from matched control samples using the swim-up procedure (12.0 +/- 3.0 standard error of the mean SEM X 10(6)/ml versus 1.9 +/- 0.7 SEM X 10(6)/ml; 27 experiments, P less than 0.001). Discontinuous Nycodenz gradients may be useful for selection of motile spermatozoa from poor-quality semen for in vitro fertilization.
The somatostatin upstream enhancer (SMS-UE) is a highly complex enhancer element. The distal A-element contains overlapping Pdx1 and Pbx binding sites. However, a point mutation in the A-element that ...abolishes both Pdx1 and Pbx binding does not impair promoter activity. In contrast, a point mutation that selectively eliminates Pdx1 binding to a proximal B-element reduces the promoter activity. The B-element completely overlaps with a Pax6 binding site, the C-element. A point mutation in the C-element demonstrates that Pax6 binding is essential for promoter activity. Interestingly, a block mutation in the A-element reduces both Pax6 binding and promoter activity. In heterologous cells, Pdx1 potentiated Pax6 mediated activation of a somatostatin reporter. We conclude that the β/δ-cell-specific activity of the SMS-UE is achieved through simultaneous binding of Pdx1 and Pax6 to the B- and C-elements, respectively. Furthermore, the A-element appears to stabilise Pax6 binding.
Contents: I. GERMANY. Introduction - Gellert, Claudius: The German Model of Research and Advanced Education - Gellert, Claudius: The Conditions of Research Training in Contemporary German ...Universities - II. BRITAIN. Introduction - Henkel, Mary/Kogan, Maurice: Research Training and Graduate Education. The British Macro Structure - Becher, Tony: Graduate Education in Britain. The View from the Ground - III. FRANCE. Introduction - Neave, Guy: Separation de Corps. The Training of Advanced Students and the Organization of Research in France - Neave, Guy/Edelstein, Richard: The Research Training System in France. A Microstudy of Three Academic Disciplines - IV. THE UNITED STATES. Introduction - Gumport, Patricia J.: Graduate Education and Organized Research in the United States - Gumport, Patricia J.: Graduate Education and REsearch Imperatives. Views from American Campuses - V. JAPAN. Introduction - Ushiogi, Morikazu: Graduate Education and Research Organization in Japan - Kawashima, Tatsuo/Maruyama, Fumihiro: The Education of Advanced Students in Japan. Engineering, Physics, Economics and History - Clark, Burton R.: Conclusion (PHF/übern.).
The DNA topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes that fulfil vital roles in the replication, transcription and recombination of DNA by carrying out DNA-strand passage reactions. Here we characterize a ...prokaryotic counterpart to the eukaryotic topoisomerase I in the hyperthermophilic methanogen Methanopyrus kandleri. The new enzyme, called topoisomerase V, has the following properties in common with eukaryotic topoisomerase I, which distinguish it from all other known prokaryotic topoisomerases: (1) its activity is Mg(2+)-independent; (2) it relaxes both negatively and positively supercoiled DNA; (3) it makes a covalent complex with the 3' end of the broken DNA strand; and (4) it is recognized by antibody raised against human topoisomerase I. Eukaryotic-like enzymes have been discovered in some hyperthermophilic prokaryotes, namely the eocytes and the extremely thermophilic archaebacteria, and hyperthermophilic homologues of eukaryotic DNA polymerase-alpha, transcription factor IIB and DNA ligase have all been reported. Thus our findings support the idea that some essential parts of the eukaryotic transcription-translation and replication machineries were in place before the emergence of eukaryotes, and that the closest living relatives of eukaryotes may be hyperthermophiles.
Carcinoma of the gallbladder is one of the gastrointestinal malignancies with an extraordinarily poor prognosis. The 5-year survival rate amounts to less than 5 per cent in most series. Our aim was ...to analyze the experience of a single center with surgery for gallbladder carcinoma with special reference to liver wedge resection.
A retrospective analysis examined all patients of the Clinic of Surgery of the Humboldt University Medical School (Charité) with diagnosed gallbladder carcinoma operated on between January 1981 and August 1993. The analysis was based on patient documentation. Cumulative survival rates were calculated according to the method of Kaplan/Meier. Statistical significances were calculated using logrank and Wilcoxon's tests.
Eighty one patients (61 female, 20 male) were included in the study. The preoperative diagnoses were confirmed in 33 patients (40.7%). The stage distribution according to the TNM-system revealed 6, 10, 12, and 53 patients at the stages I-IV, respectively. The curative resection rate was 22.2%. Stage-dependent surgical procedures resulted in cumulative survival rates of 33.3% for stages I and II, 8.3% for stage III and 1.9% for stage IV. The overall prognosis was significantly determined by metastatic spread to the lymph nodes.
Diagnostic efforts should focus on detecting the low stages I and II of gallbladder carcinoma. Our results suggest that aggressive surgical management with second intervention and wedge resection or more extended liver resection is the method of choice for stage T1b or more advanced stages of gallbladder carcinoma.
OBJECTIVES--Vietnamese immigration to the U.S. since the conclusion of the Vietnam war has been substantial and in Orange County, CA, Vietnamese Americans comprise 3% of the population (the largest ...community in the US). Our objective was to collect data on the HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and self-reported high risk behaviours within this community. METHODS--A survey instrument was administered anonymously in Vietnamese to 532 respondents in their homes. Individuals from three population strata were randomly sampled: men 18 to 35 years old (N = 193); men 36 to 45 years old (N = 137); and women 18 to 35 years old (N = 202). Data were gathered on: (1) degree of acculturation; (2) knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS; and (3) self-reported sexual and other high risk practices. RESULTS--Survey data indicated that 38% of respondents were very worried about themselves and 83% were worried about a family member getting AIDS. Knowledge about actual modes of HIV transmission was generally accurate, but a substantial minority still believed that HIV can be transmitted through casual contact, and 68% from needles used in hospitals. Women demonstrated less accurate knowledge than men on five key items. Quarantine of the HIV infected was agreed to by 45%. Twenty-nine percent did not believe that the epidemic would affect them personally, and 49% stated that they did not have enough information about AIDS to protect themselves. Regarding sexual practices, 31% reported never having had sex. Of the others, 8% had two or more sexual partners in the prior 12 months. No same sex behaviour was reported. Six percent of men had visited a female prostitute; of these, 24% had visited 2 or more in the prior 12 months; half of encounters in this time period were outside the US. Substantial percentages of sexually active, unmarried respondents indicated that they never use (17-40%) or only sometimes use (10-32%) condoms. Less than 1% had used injection drugs. CONCLUSIONS--Education should be targeted at the Vietnamese community of southern California to improve knowledge that HIV cannot be contracted through casual contact, to convey information about methods for self-protection, and to reduce high risk sexual practices such as unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners and sex with prostitutes.
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