Rules and regulations of the Government of Vietnam on collection and exportation of biological materials.

Situated in Southeast Asia, with a tropical monsoon climate, Vietnam is covered by tropical rain forests over one-quarter of its surface. Forests have been extremely important in the country's economy and they will be essential in its future development. Forests contribute directly to the economy through the provision of building materials and energy and indirectly through foreign exchange earnings, which amount to about US$200 million annually. Forests play a key role in the conservation of biodiversity. They protect watersheds and thus contribute to flood control and water management in the highly productive delta regions. In order for the forests to contribute to the national economy, strong forest management institutions and proper policies are necessary. Forest land use and exploitation should be strictly controlled, and effective programs must be developed. The potential of the forests can only be realized on a sustainable basis through significant changes in current practices.

Use of simple clinical parameters to assess severity of bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether simple clinical parameters could be used to predict the severity of acute bronchiolitis and the need for supplemental oxygen therapy. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study, performed in a tertiary care paediatric hospital. Seventy-one infants under 15 months of age with a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis were examined on admission. Clinical parameters were recorded, and each infant was re-examined after approximately 12 and 24 h. All infants were examined by one medical student and, when possible, by a doctor, the two being unaware of each other's findings. Parameters recorded included respiratory and heart rates and presence of wheeze, crackles, intercostal recession, sternal retraction and/or cyanosis. The outcome measure was the need for supplemental oxygen, as determined by the independent caring medical team, on the basis of pulse oximetry and clinical judgement. RESULTS: Forty (56%) of the 71 babies required supplemental oxygen. All cyanosed babies required supplemental oxygen, but only 9 (21%) were cyanosed on admission. Intercostal recession (relative risk RR 2.55; 95% CI 1.28, 5.08) and sternal retraction (RR 1.60; 95% CI 1.06, 2.42) predicted the need for supplemental oxygen with moderate accuracy. Interobserver agreement was only fair for most parameters, but was poor for intercostal recession and good for cyanosis. CONCLUSIONS: Simple clinical parameters may help predict the need for oxygen therapy in acute bronchiolitis, although further studies are required to define suitable clinical criteria. Such criteria are extremely important in developing countries where oxygen is a scarce resource.

How protein hormones reach their target cells. Receptor-mediated transcytosis of hCG through endothelial cells.

In many organs the vascular endothelium forms a barrier which impedes the free diffusion of large molecules. The mechanism by which protein hormones are transported through the endothelial cells to reach their target cells is unknown. We have examined the transport of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in rat testicular microvasculature by electron microscopy and by analysing the transfer of radiolabeled hormone and antibodies. Surprisingly, we have observed that the same receptor molecule which is present in target Leydig cells is also involved in transcytosis through the endothelial cells. The hormone was internalized by coated pits and vesicles on the luminal side of the endothelium. It was then localized in the endosomal compartment and subsequently appeared to be delivered by smooth vesicles into the subendothelial space. Moreover, anti-LH/hCG receptor antibodies were efficiently transported via the same system and delivered into the interstitial space. If generalized, these observations may define a new level of modulation of hormone action and may be of importance for drug targeting into the numerous organs which are responsive to the various protein hormones.