The human pluripotent stem cell: impact on medicine and society.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the current state of the science surrounding human pluripotent stem cells and to show that the derivation of such cells from donated preimplantation human embryos should be eligible for federal funding provided that certain protections are met. DESIGN: A literature search focusing on the scientific aspects of pluripotent stem-cell research and analyses of current and past legislation and federal panel recommendations. CONCLUSION(S): The current federal laws regulating the permission necessary to obtain fetal tissue from elective pregnancy terminations are intended to insulate the decision to terminate a pregnancy from the potential positive influence of fetal tissue transplantation. A similar situation can be created for the derivation of cells from excess preimplantation human embryos produced by IVF programs. If, as in fetal tissue research, assurances can be made that the research will have no influence on the decision to dispose of the embryo, the derivation of pluripotent stem cells from embryo should proceed with federal funding.

125I aqueous waste volume reduction at a pharmaceutical research laboratory.

A wide variety of radioactive waste is generated by pharmaceutical research. One particularly high volume low specific activity waste stream produced by a research and development facility is aqueous 125I waste. This waste is generally held for decay and released to the sanitary sewer when the activity is low enough to ensure that concentrations are well below the appropriate regulatory limits. However, the large volume of this particular waste stream rapidly exhausted available space to store it for decay. This study investigated safe, inexpensive, and efficient methods for removing 125I from the aqueous waste, with the goal of implementing a practical process for concentrating the activity and thus reducing the stored volume. The implemented treatment (volume reduction) process used commercially available low cost activated carbon/particulate filters and inexpensive resin beds manufactured in-house. The much smaller volumes of spent filters and resin beds are then held for decay and eventual incineration. This technique has proven an effective means for managing this high volume waste stream.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon: an unusual case.

A case of carcinoma of the ascending colon in a young woman is reported. The case is unusual in several features including the age at onset, the lack of predisposing familial or pre-malignant conditions, and the subsequent course of the patient. The case illustrates the apparent spontaneous regression of an adenocarcinoma.

Effect of dietary calcium on metabolic balance of normal infants.

Metabolic balance studies were performed with six normal infants fed in a balanced cross-over design three formulas differing only in calcium concentration: 389, 659, and 1024 mg/liter. Absorption of phosphorus was significantly affected by increasing calcium intake decreasing from 68 to 63 to 52% of intake. However, since urinary excretion of phosphorus also decreased, there was no significant effect on retention of phosphorus. Absorption of fat was slightly (but significantly) depressed by calcium, decreasing from 97.5 to 95.5 to 92.1% as calcium intake increased. The level of dietary calcium had no significant effect on absorption or retention of nitrogen, magnesium, copper, and zinc. One of the subjects had consistently lower absorption of calcium and fat than the other subjects, suggesting an absorptive defect. The decrease in fractional absorption of calcium (57 to 47 to 39% of intake) with increasing intake of calcium is compatible with adaptive regulation. On the other hand, the observation that absorbed calcium (mg/kg/day) was linearly related to intake of calcium with a slope of 0.373 suggests an alternative explanation: constant passive, concentration-dependent (slope), and constant active (y-intercept) transport of calcium over the range of calcium intakes. Thus, the findings are explainable in more than one way and do not necessarily demonstrate regulatory changes.

Contextual and sociodemographic antecedents of institutionalization among aged welfare recipients.

Data obtained in the 1973 Survey of Low-Income Aged and Disabled were used to predict 1974 institutionalized status among aged (65+) welfare recipients. Principal factor analysis was used to derive an index of self-care based on activities of daily living items. Two levels of ability were determined and separate logistic analyses were performed for demographic, contextual and community contact variables. County and other contextual indicators were used to test effects of bed supply and concentration of poverty. The following characteristics were associated with greater probabilities of institutionalization: functional impairment, advanced age, household isolation, presence of nonrelatives and white racial background. Variables associated with greater probabilities of noninstitutionalization included: southern residence, residence in counties with greater concentrations of poverty, frequent contact with friends and relatives, and propinquity of children. Receipt of services was associated with greater probability of institutional placement.