O.S.S浅谈

Oncology Support System是荷兰PHI LIPS公司O.S.S的全称。这是一台在Treatment Planning System(T.P.S治疗计划系统)基础上发展而成、辅助CT诊断、设计三维放射治疗的专用计算机系统。我院放射治疗科于84年完成了SL 75—20医用电子直线加速器、模拟定位机、O.S.S等设备的安装     

Examination “Selection Pressures” in Biology

Class Work with Fungi. H. A. DADE and JEAN GUNNELL. Pp. 64. London: Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew. 1969. 10s. Review by B. M. Jones

The Insects: Structure and Function. R. F. CHAPMAN. Pp. xiii + 819 + 509 figs. London: The English Universities Press Ltd., 1969. £4.25. Review by T. G. Onions

An Introduction to the Principles of Plant Physiology. WALTER STILES and E. C. COCKING. Pp. 633. London: Methuen &; Co., Ltd. Third edition, 1969. 168s. Review by B. M. Jones

Background Notes to the Study of Human Biology for Nurses. T. ROBERTS. Pp. 80. London: Edward Arnold. Semistiff Back, 10s. (50p.). Review by J. H. Elliott     

Does Help in Decision-Making in Biology Help in Decision-Making in Human Sciences and Conversely?

A link between biological and human sciences may be established, under the condition that we should admit the existence of reciprocal influences between them. The model for the regulation of agonistic antagonistic couples (MRAAC) is built from the study of biological systems and gives rise to specific types of control. This model can be helpful in decision processes in some human sciences such as management, economical and political strategies. The reason for such an opportunity lies in the fact that MRAAC is a general and phenomenological model able to incorporate the whole of the agonistic antagonistic systems. This type of regulation might be related to the concept of the viability of a system (yet also valid for human science systems) and to a functional and structural pattern which is the basis for agonistic antagonistic networks.     

TGF-β Biology in Mammary Development and Breast Cancer

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β) was first implicated in mammary epithelial development by Daniel and Silberstein in 1987 and in breast cancer cells and hormone resistance by Lippman and colleagues in 1988. TGF-β is critically important for mammary morphogenesis and secretory function through specific regulation of epithelial proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix. Differential TGF-β effects on distinct cell types are compounded by regulation at multiple levels and the influence of context on cellular responses. Studies using controlled expression and conditional-deletion mouse models underscore the complexity of TGF-β biology across the cycle of mammary development and differentiation. Early loss of TGF-β growth regulation in breast cancer evolves into fundamental deregulation that mediates cell interactions and phenotypes driving invasive disease. Two outstanding issues are to understand the mechanisms of biological control in situ and the circumstances by which TGF-β regulation is subverted in neoplastic progression.The discovery of a “transforming growth factor” in normal tissue and serum in the early 1980s rapidly led to the identification of a large family of polypeptides whose action is involved in all aspects of development, homeostasis, and cancer (Moses and Roberts 2008). The activity of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β) was first implicated in mammary epithelial development in 1987 by a canonical experiment by Daniel and Silberstein. Pellets containing TGF-β implanted into mouse mammary gland during ductal morphogenesis were shown to induce rapid regression of advancing endbuds, which was among the first demonstration of its potent inhibitory, rather than transforming, activity (Silberstein and Daniel 1987). However, soon after, Lippman and colleagues showed that TGF-β was produced by breast cancer cells, which in turn contributed to their hormone resistance (Knabbe et al. 1987). These two diametrically opposed actions have continued to fascinate those studying its sundry roles in mammary biology and breast cancer. After nearly a quarter century, this brief article underscores the major two themes in mammary biology: Although TGF-β orchestrates tissue composition and critical controls during mammary development, its subversion during cancer progressively undermines homeostasis and actively drives malignancy.     

Revision der Gattung Thysanomitrium Schwaegr. (Dicranaceae) in Südamerika.

Abstract

The differences between Thysanomitrium Schwaegr. and Campylopus Brid. are discussed and regarded as insignificant. Therefore the six Thysanomitrium species reported from South America in the Index Muscorum are critically revised. T. yunqueanum C. Müll. and T. miserum Broth. are synonyms of Campylopus richardii Brid., and T. schiffneri Broth. and T. arenaceum Broth. are placed in the genus Campylopus as new combinations. Also T. arenaceum is reported from a new locality in Brazil. No material could be found in herbaria of T. wainoi Broth. and T. gastrotis C. Müll.     

洗衣粉S.S.琼脂培养基的初步应用报告

分离肠道病原菌的培养基种类繁多,但效果却不一致,其中效果较满意者当推3号胆盐S.S.琼脂及去氧胆酸钠-牛胆酸钠琼脂(简称郑氏S.S.琼脂)。我院试用的洗衣粉-去氧胆酸钠琼脂(简称洗衣粉S.S.琼脂)效果又较前者为优,这种培养基对肠道病原菌不但有很高的阳性检出率,而且痢疾杆菌在这种培养基上呈特殊的粘性菌落,可以在分离培养基上初步鉴别痢疾菌和沙门氏菌菌落,使肠道培养基更趋于完善。     

Was the serine protease cathepsin G discovered by S. G. Hedin in 1903 in bovine spleen?

In the beginning of the 20th century, enzymes with proteolytic activity were classified as peptidases, Erepsin, and proteases. Among these, pepsin, trypsin, and autolytic enzymes were of the protease class. Spleen-derived proteases were poorly characterized until Sven Gustaf Hedin performed several digestion experiments with bovine spleen. He incubated minced bovine spleen under acidic or neutral conditions and characterized two active proteases; the results were published in 1903. The first protease was named α-protease and was active under neutral conditions. The second was named β-protease and was active under acidic conditions. We replicated Hedin's experiments according to his methods and found, by using activity-based probes to visualize proteases, that the historical α-protease is the present-day serine protease cathepsin G (CatG), which is known to be important in several immune processes, including antigen processing, chemotaxis, and activation of surface receptors. The β-protease, however, comprised different proteases including CatX, B, S, and D. We suggest that Hedin described CatG activity in bovine spleen over 100 years ago.     

The Current Status of Preclinical Endocrine Education in U.S. Medical Schools

ObjectiveTo characterize the current landscape of preclinical medical endocrine education in U.S. allopathic medical schools.MethodsU.S. endocrine curriculum directors were asked to voluntarily complete a 16-question email survey surveying the status of endocrine preclinical education at their medical school.ResultsSixty-nine of 155 (45%) endocrine block director respondents completed the online survey between July 2021 and September 2021. A larger incoming class, a longer duration of the endocrine curriculum, and the offering of a separate endocrine curriculum (ie apart from the teaching of other organ systems) were each independently associated with an increased number of faculty teaching the course. Schools that used a gland-/organ-based curriculum only and those that used a combination of gland-/organ-based curriculum with topic-based curriculum differed significantly in their use of large lectures, small groups, and several curriculum components, including point of care glucose testing, continuous glucose monitoring, and insulin pumps.ConclusionThis survey study reports the current landscape of preclinical endocrine education in the United States and describes opportunities to improve interest in pursuing endocrinology as a career.     

U.S. National Institutes of Health Core Consolidation–Investing in Greater Efficiency

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) invests substantial resources in core research facilities (cores) that support research by providing advanced technologies and scientific and technical expertise as a shared resource. In 2010, the NIH issued an initiative to consolidate multiple core facilities into a single, more efficient core. Twenty-six institutions were awarded supplements to consolidate a number of similar core facilities. Although this approach may not work for all core settings, this effort resulted in consolidated cores that were more efficient and of greater benefit to investigators. The improvements in core operations resulted in both increased services and more core users through installation of advanced instrumentation, access to higher levels of management expertise; integration of information management and data systems; and consolidation of billing; purchasing, scheduling, and tracking services. Cost recovery to support core operations also benefitted from the consolidation effort, in some cases severalfold. In conclusion, this program of core consolidation resulted in improvements in the effective operation of core facilities, benefiting both investigators and their supporting institutions.