Increased Nitric Oxide Production and GFAP Expression in the Brains of Influenza A/NWS Virus Infected Mice

The cause of influenza to the brain was investigated using the A/NWS/33 influenza virus infected BALB/c mouse model. NOS-2 mRNA levels in the infected mouse brain was greater than in control mice in all brain regions examined, particularly in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus by 1 day p.i. On the contrary, no differences in NOS-1 or NOS-3 mRNA levels were found between infected and control mice. There was also a marked increase in the levels of metabolites of nitric oxide in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining for anti-NOS-2 primarily in the hippocampus of infected mice. Further, anti-NOS-2 and GFAP staining was mostly found around capillary blood vessels of the hippocampus starting early in the course of the disease. These results indicate that the NWS enhances the activation of astrocytes and NOS-2 expression which in turn enhances NO production and the expansion of capillary blood vessels

Evaluation of risk factors for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cisplatin and gemcitabine treatment for biliary tract cancer : acid suppressants do not prevent nausea

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most serious adverse effects of cancer therapy. Cancer patients frequently use acid suppressants (AS) for palliation of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with malignancy and/or anticancer therapy. AS are suggested as an additional option for CINV management in several antiemetic guidelines, although their efficacy remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether AS administration affects CINV incidence in cisplatin and gemcitabine treatment for biliary tract cancer. The primary endpoint was to evaluate whether AS administration was associated with the incidence of all-grade nausea in the first administration by logistic analysis. The secondary endpoints were to assess factors associated with anorexia. Prophylactic antiemetics were based on current guidelines. Nausea occurred in 34.2% of patients (grade 1, 31.7%; grade 2, 2.5%). Patients exhibiting vomiting and anorexia represented 4.2% and 39.1%, respectively, without grade 3/4 symptoms. Multivariate analysis suggested that the independent risk factors for nausea as female sex, and no- or less-alcohol drinking habit and regular narcotics administration were associated with anorexia. In contrast, AS administration was not associated with nausea and anorexia incidence (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.43, 0.64–3.23; P =0.38 for nausea, 1.62, 0.71–3.68; P =0.25 for anorexia). In conclusion, we found that AS administration is not associated with CINV incidence, and female sex is a risk factor for nausea, and non-alcohol drinking habits and regular narcotic use are factors associated with anorexia in cisplatin and gemcitabine treatment for biliary tract cancer. We should correctly administer AS depending on the patient's situation. Successful CINV management needs effective monitoring and administration of prophylactic antiemetics and counter-measure medicines for patients at risk

Comparative model tests in ice of a Canadian coast guard R-class icebreaker

This paper presents the results of resistance and propulsion tests in level ice of a 1:20 scale model of the Canadian Coast Guard R-class icebreaker at two ice-hull friction coefficients, performed at several ice testing facilities in various countries under the aegis of the Committee on Performance of Ships in Ice-covered Waters of the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC). There is good agreement overall among the test results obtained at the various facilities. The differences that do remain should be attributed to differences in experimental techniques and types of model ice used at the participating laboratories. An increase in hull roughness led to an increase in ice resistance as expected, but had no effect on the propeller characteristics. While the thrust coefficient in ice was nearly the same as in clear water, the torque coefficient and thrust deduction factor were much greater in level ice than in clear water and nearly constant. Full-scale ship performance predicted from the resistance test results of the rougher model and the propulsion characteristics in clear water was in good agreement overall with available field trial data. Predicted performance using the ice resistance of the rougher model and the model propeller characteristics in ice was usually below that observed at full scale. This would indicate that ice-propeller interaction is excessive during model propulsion tests, or that the effect of ice entrainment on propeller performance is greater at model scale than at full scale. Ice-propeller interaction remains a domain where further research is needed.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye