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This study is on the nutritional efficiency of the host plants viz., Corchorus olitorius, C. capsularis, Hibiscus cannabinus, H. sabdariffa, Crotoloria juncea and Boemheria nivea and their biochemical influences on Bihar hairy caterpillar Spilosoma obliqua (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). The results revealed that the nutritional and biochemical parameters varied significantly with the infested and uninfested host plants. The growth rate of 5th instar larvae varied from 13.06 mg/ day in B. nivea to 17.90 mg/ day in C. olitorius; it was 14.80 ± 0.69, 16.74 ± 0.74, 14.94 ± 0.29 and 15.06 ± 0.26 mg/ day on C. capsularis, H. cannabinus, H. sabdariffa, C. juncea and B. nivea, respectively. Thus, C. olitorius appeared to be the most suitable food source for growth and development of S. obliqua. Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were elicited by the infestation of S. obliqua indicating their role in insect defence. Higher phenol and peroxidase content in the host plants adversely affected the food utilization indices. This is the possible explanation for variation in food consumption and development of S. obliqua; and it might be due to significant differences in the biochemical contents of the evaluated bast fibre crops.

Background & Aim: The aim of the present study is to the correlation of suicide note in relation to the manner of deaths. All the suicidal deaths occurred in the, GGH, Guntur and its surrounding area by suicide brought to the mortuary. In our study, the suicide notes are taken and an attempt to analyse the psychological, social, economic conditions leading to the suicide of the person. The suicide note is analysed in terms of the number of pages, number of lines per page, number of word per line, the font size of the words, grammatical errors, the language, the number of hand writing, the manner of addressing etc which are having significance in analysing the mental status of the concerned individual. Results: A total of 30 suicide notes were available. A majority of suicide note was in age group of 15–40 years (76%) and most were men (50%). All suicide notes were handwritten, the majority (70%) in regional language Telugu. Length of notes varied from just few words to few pages. Contents of suicide notes included apology/shame/guilt (80%), love for those left behind (55%) and instruction regarding practical affairs (23%). Most have blamed none for the act (50%). 23% mentioned that they are committing suicide to prove their innocence. 32% mentioned a last wish.Conclusion: The majority of suicidal note contained “guilt” which is a strong indicator of possible depression in deceased. Creating awareness about suicide among public and ensuring access to professionals trained in suicide prevention is need of the hour in this part of the world.

Insecticidal resistance studies against third instar larvae of DBM (Plutella xylostella L.) were carried out to know the rate of development of resistance from F1 to F3 generations in Karnataka population. The third instar larvae obtained from field were subjected to bioassay studies with tested against acephate, cypermethrin, spinosad, cartap hydrochloride and Cry2Ab toxin using leaf dip method to calculate LC50 values. The LC50 values of the insecticides were further used to quantify the resistance in P. xylostella of parental generation (F0) from Karnataka field population. The survivals from F0 generation were reared to next generation (F1). Resistance development studies was assessed from F1 to F3 generation with third instar larvae in every generation with a concentration that caused 80.00 % mortality for all the test insecticides and Cry2Ab toxin. Results revealed that ((0.17 folds) no resistance was developed against acephate in F3 generation. In case of cypermethrin 2.33 folds. Resistance studies further revealed that 1.50 folds resistance was developed against spinosad, 2.28 folds against cartap hydrochloride and Cry2Ab toxin 1.49 folds resistance was recorded in F3 generation. The rate of development of resistance from F1 to F3 generations increased in all the test insecticides and Cry toxin, except against acephate in Karnataka population. This data will be useful in the development of insecticide resistance management approach for DBM.

Genetic diversity in acephate, spinosad and Cry2Ab resistant Plutella xylostella collected from three states of India was assessed by RAPD markers. The DNA extracted from larvae was subjected to polymerase chain reaction using 10 RAPD primers. The highest number alleles (7) were produced by primer ABA-13, followed by six alleles each by primers ABA-2, 7, 8, 11, 14; five alleles each were produced by ABA-4, 9, 10, 12. UPGMA analysis clustered the acephate, spinosad and Cry2Ab treated P.xylostella populations into two groups with overall similarity level of 33%, 27% and 34% respectively. Cluster A consisted 11 samples while Cluster B consisted only F1 of acephate and spinosad treated Karnataka population. In Cry2Ab treated population Cluster B comprised 11 samples and Cluster A had out grouped singly i.e. F0 generation from Karnataka. The genetic variability between the acephate, spinosad and Cry2Ab treated populations ranged from 33 to 69%, 27 to 56% and 34 to 69% respectively. Acephate and spinosad treated F1 population and Cry2Ab treated F0 population from Karnataka were out grouped from rest of the populations.

ABSTRCT. The pH sensitive hydrogels composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and acryloyl phenylalanine (APA) were prepared by redox polymerization using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, Keterolac Tromethamine (KT), was loaded successfully into poly(NIPA-co-APA) copolymeric hydrogels by swelling equilibrium method. To understand the nature of drug in the polymeric matrix, the newly synthesized drug loaded poly(NIPAco-APA) copolymeric hydrogels were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique result indicates the spherical smooth surface of the hydrogels. The drug (KT) releasing nature of the poly(NIPA-co-APA) hydrogels was studied in pH 1.2 and 7.4. Effects of drug loading, crosslinking agent, pH and the ionic strength of the external medium on swelling of hydrogels were also investigated.

Copolymeric silver nanocomposite hydrogels were synthesized by using acryloyl phenylalanine (APA), N'-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and crosslinked by N,N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) via radical redox polymerization. Present study allows entrapping silver nanoparticles into hydrogel networks. UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles in hydrogel matrix. 11% of weight loss difference between hydrogel and silver nanocomposite hydrogel is clearly indicates the formation and silver nanoparticles by thermo-gravimetrical analysis. The order of swelling capacity values of hydrogels and silver nanocmposite hydrogels were found to be in the order of placebo copolymeric hydrogel >Ag-copolymeric silver nanocomposite hydrogels. The particle size of silver nanoparticles was analysed and are in the range of 5 - 10 nm which has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as particle size analysis. The silver nanocomposite hydrogel has shown very good antibacterial activity on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteriocides.

Naturally available carbohydrate polymers such as methylcellulose (MC) and gelatin (Ge) have been widely studied in the previous literature for controlled release (CR) applications. In this study, methyl cellulose-g-acrylamide/gelatin (MC-g-AAm/Ge) microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion method and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to encapsulate with nifedipine (NFD), an antihypertensive drug. The microspheres prepared were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser particle size analyzer. DSC thermograms of NFD-loaded AAm-MC/Gel microspheres confirmed the molecular level distribution of NFD in the matrix. SEM indicated the formation of spherical particles. Swelling experiments supported the drug diffusion characteristics and release data of the matrices. Cumulative release data were analyzed using an empirical equation to understand the nature of transport of drug through the matrices. Controlled release characteristics of the matrices for NFD were investigated in pH 7.4 media. Drug was released in a controlled manner up to 12 h. Particle size and size distribution of the microspheres as studied by laser light diffraction particle size analyzer indicated their sizes to be around 120 μm. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010

Eudragit L100/cellulose acetate butyrate blend microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation technique using poly(vinyl alcohol) as an emulsifying agent nifedipine (NFD) was successfully loaded into these microspheres. The effect of experimental variables such as ratio of blend ratio on NFD encapsulation efficiency, release rate, size, and morphology of the microspheres has been investigated. Scanning electron micrographs indicated the formation of spherical microspheres. Mean particle size of the microspheres has been measured by the laser light scattering technique ranged between 100 and 120 μm. NFD was successfully encapsulated up to 80% in the polymeric matrices. In vitro dissolution experiments performed in pH 7.4 buffer medium indicated a controlled release of NFD from the blend microspheres up to 12 h.

Background: Development of improved oral insulin administration is necessary for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, to overcome the problem of daily subcutaneous injections. The vast amount of literature data on oral insulin delivery prompted us to cover this area in a review. Objective: Insulin delivery using polymeric devices is discussed, with an ultimate aim of addressing the technological development in this area. Methods: The development of oral delivery devices for insulin using hydrogels and micro/nanoparticles is discussed with reference to polymers. These efforts must be directed to increase the residence time of insulin near the intestinal absorptive cells. Results/conclusion: The published results on oral insulin delivery devices, particularly on inter-polymer complexes of the grafted copolymers, are discussed in greater depth. The use of absorption enhancers like cyclodextrins, bile salts and surfactants is covered. The state-of-the-art technology and challenges in this area are discussed, w...

Carbohydrate polymeric blend microspheres, consisting of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and methylcellulose (MC) were prepared by water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion method. These microspheres were cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and loaded with nifedipine (NFD), an anti-inflammatory drug. The microspheres were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser particle size analyzer. DSC thermograms of NFD-loaded NaAlg–MC microspheres confirmed the molecular level distribution of NFD in the polymer matrix. SEM picture of the microspheres suggested the formation of spherical particles. Swelling experiments on the microspheres provided important information on drug diffusion properties. Release data have been analyzed using an empirical equation to understand the nature of transport of drug containing solution through the polymeric matrices. The controlled release characteristics of the matrices for NFD were investigated in pH 7.4 media. Particle size and size distribution of the microspheres was studied by laser light diffraction particle size analyzer. Drug was released in a controlled manner up to 12 h.

Mixed matrix polymer membranes containing nanosized (21 nm) TiO2 particles dispersed in sodium alginate (NaAlg) have been prepared by solution casting and cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. These membranes were tested for pervaporation (PV) dehydration of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and isopropanol from their aqueous solutions at 30°C. Results have been compared with plain cross-linked NaAlg membrane. Plain cross-linked NaAlg membrane could remove up to a maximum of 97 wt% of water at higher feed water concentrations of the feed with considerably much lower selectivity. Infinite selectivity values with reasonable fluxes were observed for the mixed matrix membranes of NaAlg in the investigated feed compositions of 5–15 wt% water containing THF and 10–20 wt% of water containing isopropanol feed mixtures. Fluxes of NaAlg-TiO2 mixed matrix membranes are slightly lower than those of plain the NaAlg membrane for the investigated range of feed water compositions.

Semi-interpenetrating network (IPN) of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil (w/o) emulsification method. The microspheres were encapsulated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and release patterns carried in 7.4 pH at temperatures of 25 and 37°C. The semi-IPN microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopic studies were done on the drug-loaded microspheres to confirm the polymorphism of 5-FU and surface morphology of microspheres. These results indicated the molecular level dispersion of 5-FU in the semi-IPN microspheres. Particle size and size distribution were studied by laser light diffraction technique. Microspheres exhibited release of 5-FU up to 12 h. The swelling studies were carried in 1.2 and 7.4 pH buffer media at 25 and 37°C. Drug release from NaAlg-NIPAAm semi-IPN microspheres at 25 and 37°C confirmed the thermosensitive nature by in vitro dissolution. The micro domains have released in a controlled manner due the presence of NIPAAm in the matrix. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Poly(methylmethacrylate)-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PMMA-PVP) microspheres loaded with cefadroxil (water-soluble) and indomethacin (water-insoluble) drugs have been prepared by the dispersion polymerization technique using PVP as a steric stabilizer. Microspheres have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (X-RD) studies. DSC studies indicated coating of PVP onto PMMA microspheres. SEM suggested the formation of microspheres in the size of around 5 μm. X-RD confirmed that drug has been highly dispersed in polymer particles. Higher encapsulation efficiency of up to 84% was achieved for hydrophobic drug, indomethacin than for hydrophilic cefadroxil. In vitro release studies performed in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer saline indicated that release of indomethacin was controlled up to 12 h, whereas cefadroxil was released in a controlled manner up to 10 h. During in vitro release, properties of both the drugs remained unaltered. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1860–1865, 2007

Blend microspheres of chitosan (CS) and guar gum (GG) have been prepared using the water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion method. Cefadroxil was loaded into the microspheres and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, leading to the formation of a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure. The microspheres have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Scanning electron micrographs showed the formation of non-uniform microspheres with the rough surface. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry studies of the plain and the drug-loaded microspheres indicated that drug is dispersed at the molecular level in the semi-IPN matrix. In vitro dissolution experiments performed in pH 7.4 buffer medium indicated a sustained and controlled release of cefadroxil from semi-IPN microspheres up to 10 h. The amount of drug loaded into microspheres, CS-GG composition of the blend and the amount of cross-linking agent used have shown dependencies on...

Interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) membranes of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and various amounts of poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) have been prepared and tested for the pervaporation dehydration of ethanol and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The presence of hydrophilic PHEMA in the IPN matrix was found to be responsible for increase in membrane selectivity to water. NaAlg–PHEMA IPN membrane containing 20 wt % of PHEMA exhibited a selectivity of 571 to water for the water–ethanol mixture and 857 for water–THF mixture. These data are much better than those observed for the pristine NaAlg membrane. However, flux of the IPN membranes was smaller than that of pristine NaAlg membrane. Comparatively higher flux values were observed for water–THF mixture than for water–ethanol mixture. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3324–3329, 2006

pH-Sensitive interpenetrating network (IPN) microgels (MGs) of sodium alginate (NaAlg) and acrylic acid have been prepared by using water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion technique. The MGs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometer (X-RD). The release of ibuprofen (IB), an anti-inflammatory drug, from these MGs was studied in pH 1.2 and 7.4 media. MG network consists of NaAlg, which disintegrates in the intestinal fluid, while poly(acrylic acid) provides pH-sensitivity to the microgel network. The system developed in this study showed a pH-sensitivity for the release of IB, which was attributed to the diffusion controlled release of the drug through the surfaces of MGs that undergo disintegration after swelling, depending upon the chemical composition of MGs and pH of the medium. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this work was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus computed tomography (CT) in the initial evaluation of maxillofacial space infections by comparing various parameters of the imaging studies and comparing them on a three-point scale. Materials and Methods: We prospectively evaluated 15 patients with head and neck space infections. All patients underwent CT and MRI using similar slice thickness. We reviewed all imaging studies with special attention to location, extension, source of infection, extent of bone involvement, odontogenic or nonodontogenic, and presence of gas/calcium in the lesions. All the parameters were graded based on a three-point scale and were compared statistically by paired t-test. Results: According to the results we arrived at, MRI was superior to CT in regard to lesion conspicuity, extension, number of anatomic spaces involved, and source on infection. Although not significant, MRI detected a greater number of abscess collections. However, in the aspects of detection of intralesional gas and calcium and motion artifacts, CT was superior to MRI. However, these advantages of CT over MRI are not significantly better than those of MRI. Conclusion: MRI was considered superior to CT in the initial evaluation of head and neck space infections. Our study thus concludes that MRI may be used as the primary modality to evaluate patients with head and neck infections when clinically feasible.

Submitral aneurysm is a rare cardiac pathology of uncertain origin with varied clinical manifestations. Recent studies have revealed a congenital basis of this pathology, although genetic link has been suspected because of the racial predilection. The other suggested aetiologies are infection and inflammation. The case reported here is that of a young female with a large submitral aneurysm presenting in a state of cardiogenic shock. In addition, the presence of raised inflammatory parameters indicates that the cause of origin of this aneurysm is related to inflammation.

Osteoma is an slow growing asymptomatic lesion. It is an benign tumour composed of mature compact or cancellous bone. It can be central, peripheral or extraskeletal.The central osteoma arises from the endosteum, the peripheral osteoma from the periosteum and the extra-skeletal soft tissue osteoma usually develops within the muscle [1] . Here a case report of osteoma in the lower border of the angle of the mandible in a 14 year old patient is presented. The osteoma was surgically excised.

Seasonal variability in the currents at the subsurface (450–670 m), intermediate (1150–1370 m), deeper (3450–3670 m) and near-bottom (4270–5100 m) depths at three mooring stations in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) were documented in 1995–1997. The current-meter moorings were deployed thrice at station 1 (MS-1, MS-1A and MS-1B) in the northern basin (∼10°S), and twice at stations 2 (MS-2 and MS-2A) and 3 (MS-3 and MS-3A) in the southern basin (∼15°S). In the northern basin, seasonal variability in the currents at 500 m and 1200 m depth is due to the seasonal north–south shift in the westward-flowing South Equatorial Current (SEC). Low-frequency (30–60 day) oscillation, superimposed on high-frequency (inertial, semi-diurnal and diurnal) fluctuations, is noticed at all the depths including near-bottom depth (5100 m) where the U-component of current was dominant. The variability of the currents at the intermediate depth range (1150–1300 m), encompassing the three stations of 500 km apart, indicates the existence of anticyclonic gyral circulation. The depth variation of kinetic energy (KE) emphasises the bottom intensification of currents with minimum KE at deeper depths followed by relatively higher KE at abyssal depths. In the northern basin, the total KE exhibits seasonal variation; it is high during southern spring–summer and low during southern fall–winter. The eddy KE constitutes a larger part of the total KE at synoptic scale (12–15 day) fluctuations in the northern basin and meso-scale (inertial, semi-diurnal and diurnal) oscillations in the southern basin.

Twenty-nine patients with significant haematuria after a renal invasive procedure (27 of whom had undergone a percutaneous renal procedure and 2 surgical pyelolithotomy) were investigated with angiography. Out of the 21 patients with evidence of arterial injury, 19 were treated by transarterial embolization with gelfoam with or with hydrogel particles; (n = 11), steel coils with gelfoam (n = 4), hydrogel particles (n = 1), surgicel (n = 2), silk with gelfoam (n = 1). The efficacy and technique of the therapeutic embolization procedure is emphasized.

Thermoresponsive microspheres of gellan gum-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), i.e., GG-P(NIPAAm) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) have been prepared by ionic crosslinking and used to study the controlled release (CR) of atenolol (ATL), an antihypertensive drug. Interaction of the drug with polymers was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to confirm the polymorphism and molecular level dispersion of ATL. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated spherical nature and smooth surfaces of the microspheres with some debris attached on their surfaces. Mean particle size measured by laser light diffraction ranged between 34 and 76 μm. Equilibrium swelling performed at 25°C and 37°C in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer exhibited thermoresponsive nature of the polymers. In vitro drug release performed at 25°C and 37°C indicated temperature-dependency of ATL release, which was extended up to 12 h. In vitro release profiles at both the temperatures confirmed thermoresponsive nature of the polymers giving pulsatile trends. The % cumulative release data have been fitted to an empirical equation to estimate transport parameters and to understand the nature of drug release. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010

We cytogenetically studied four cases of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. All tumors were moderately differentiated or well-differentiated, with different degrees of invasion. One tumor with microscopic seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node metastasis (tumor 4) had trisomy 7 as a sole clonal abnormality, suggesting that this is a primary change in some prostatic tumors. Although only normal karyotypes were observed in the other three tumors, several nonclonal changes were evident. Monosomy 9 or deletion of the long arm of 9 was observed in at least one cell in the three tumors without trisomy 7. Furthermore, in one of these tumors (tumor 3, moderately differentiated), several rearrangements (five of 26 cells) were observed, two of which had a common breakpoint at 15q11. Although complex chromosome changes including del(10q) and del(7q) have been described in prostatic tumors, they were not observed in the four tumors studied. This is the first report of a prostate tumor with trisomy 7 as a single clonal chromosome abnormality.

We describe a 14-year-old boy with physical and behavioral manifestations of the Smith-Magenis syndrome. Low level mosaicism (11%) for deletion 17p11.2 was found in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The deletion was also observed in 100% of metaphases examined from skin fibroblast cultures. We confirm that the Smith-Magenis syndrome is associated with a highly recognizable phenotype. Because evidence of the abnormal cell line may be minimal or absent in peripheral blood, fibroblast studies are indicated for patients in whom mosaicism for deletion 17p11.2 is suspected clinically. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Two cell lines (University of Michigan squamous carcinoma of the vulva UM-SCV-1A and UM-SCV-1B) were established from the primary tumor and a malignant pleural effusion of a 62-year-old woman. Both tumor specimens grew vigorously in vitro and could be passaged after only 14 and 10 days in culture, respectively. Both cell lines undergo 3 population doublings in 4 days, reaching saturation densities of 5 x 10(5) cells/cm2, and have been carried through more than 30 in vitro passages. In nude mice the cultured cells initially formed tumors but these regressed 2-3 weeks after inoculation. The regressing mouse tumors consisted of poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma surrounded by an inflammatory lymphoid infiltrate. The UM-SCV-1 cell lines express membrane antigens typically displayed by squamous-cell carcinomas. These include the HLA class-1 light chain beta 2-microglobulin, pemphigus, pemphigoid, and the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin defined by the UM-A9 monoclonal antibody (MAb). In contrast to the A431 vulvar carcinoma, these tumor lines do not have amplified expression of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Although tissue from the primary tumor contained low levels of estrogen receptor activity, no receptor activity was detected in the cell lines. Nevertheless, both lines were sensitive to growth inhibition by tamoxifen. This effect was not reversible by estradiol, indicating an estrogen-receptor-independent mechanism. The tumors were both hypotetraploid, contained the same chromosome rearrangements and had stable karyotypes in vitro. Each contained inv(1)(p36.3q32.1), del(4)(q12), dic(4;11)(q12;p11.2), i(5p), der(6)t(3;6)(q25.1;p21.1), several rearrangements involving chromosomes 8 and 14, + i(13), i(18p), a dicentric t(11;19), and 2 or 3 unidentified markers. Since the karyotypes of both tumors were the same, no major karyotypic change was associated with metastatic spread. These paired primary and metastatic SCC lines from an unusually aggressive vulvar carcinoma provide an in vitro model for analysis of the biological basis of this tumor's behavior.

We report on a liveborn premature male with trisomy 22 who had multiple congenital anomalies, including congenital diaphragmatic hernia and absence of corpus callosum. He died of pulmonary hypoplasia associated with diaphragmatic hernia within 12 hours of age. Chromosome analysis by multiple banding techniques based on lymphocyte culture confirmed that he had trisomy 22. This may be the first report of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and isolated absence of corpus callosum associated with trisomy 22. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.

UM-EC-2 was established from a patient with poorly differentiated stage IB endometrial carcinoma. This cell line produces tumors in nude mice that have the same histological features as the patient's tumor. UM-EC-2 cells express b2-microglobulin, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF), and the H blood group antigen. This membrane antigen phenotype is consistent with cells of human endometrial origin. The karyotype of UM-EC-2 is fairly complex, with rearrangements affecting all chromosomes except 3, 10, 14, 19, and 20. There were two populations of cells, a hyperdiploid population with a modal number of 53-55 and a hypertetraploid population with a modal number of 109. A postulated sequence of events before and after tetraploidization is suggested based on the number of copies of individual chromosomes and rearrangements. Comparison of the UM-EC-2 karyotype to that of UM-EC-1 (a previously described line from a different patient with endometrial carcinoma) revealed that the two lines share eight very similar chromosome changes, which include loss of most of chromosome 4, breakpoints affecting proximal bands on 8p, loss of most of 9q, a breakpoint at 12q22, loss of 13q, breakpoints in proximal bands on 18q, and a breakpoint at 22p11. These changes may represent nonrandom chromosome abnormalities in poorly differentiated endometrial cancer. Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors were not detected in either the primary tumor or the cell line. Nevertheless, UM-EC-2 cells were very sensitive to growth inhibition by tamoxifen (TAM) in vitro. One micromolar TAM caused 50% inhibition of cell growth, 2.5 microM caused cytostasis, and 5 microM TAM was cytotoxic, killing all cells after 5-7 days of exposure to the drug. Paradoxically, 100 nM estradiol (E2) caused a moderate increase in the growth of the cells but it did not prevent or reverse growth inhibitory effects of TAM. These findings support the concept that in some tumors TAM causes growth inhibition by an ER-independent mechanism. UM-EC-2 cells were also sensitive to growth regulation by EGF. Thus, these cells provide a new in vitro model of human endometrial cancer in which the roles of both TAM and EGF as growth regulatory substances can be investigated.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A and 2B are autosomal dominant syndromes in which medullary thyroid cancers are associated with adrenal pheochromocytomas. We have expanded our double-blind studies of high-resolution G-banded chromosomes from lymphocytes to a total of 12 MEN-2A families, 7 MEN-2B (mucosal neuroma phenotype) families and 23 non-MEN control subjects. Eighteen of 23 different control subjects were scored as having normal chromosomes 20, and 15 of 21 MEN-2A and 4 of 8 MEN-2B patients were scored as having an interstitial deletion: del(20) (p12.2p12.2). These findings suggest that the dominant mutation in many MEN-2A and MEN-2B families is a visible deletion within band 20p12.2. Combining the results of these double-blind studies with those of the only other comparable reported double-blind series provides a statistical probability of less than 1/1000 that the association between MEN-2A and the deletion was observed by chance alone. However, the occasional discrepancies in classification using presently available techniques preclude the use of high resolution chromosome studies for the diagnosis of MEN-2.

An analysis of the meteorological data collected by the research vessel ORV Sagarkanya for the mean latent and sensible heat fluxes over the Arabian Sea has indicated appreciable changes between active and weak phases of the southwest monsoon of 1986. We suggest that: (a) the presence of a core of low level winds associated with the Somali jet and its southward shift during the season, along with (b) a ridge in surface pressure over the central Arabian Sea could be responsible for the deficit in monsoon rainfall along the west coast of India in 1986.

Etude de trisomie 20 avec mosaicisme ou le mosaicisme semble limite aux tissus fœtaux car il est retrouve dans les cultures cellulaires de fibroblastes cutanes et non retrouve dans les cellules sanguines