Proposed procedural regulations--Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Proposed regulations; request for comments

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is publishing for comment proposed procedural regulations (29 CFR Part 1626). These regulations advise the public as to the procedures the Commission proposes to follow in processing charges and issuing interpretations and opinions under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. These regulations will complement the Commission's existing procedural regulations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.     

Removal of regulations regarding certification of antibiotic drugs; companion document to direct final rule--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing this companion proposed rule to the direct final rule, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, which is intended to repeal FDA's regulations governing certification of antibiotic drugs. The agency is taking this action in accordance with provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA). FDAMA repealed the statutory provision in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) under which the agency certified antibiotic drugs. FDAMA also made conforming amendments to the act.     

Proposed regulations to govern private business use of tax-exempt bond financed facilities

For the most part, owners of tax-exempt hospitals and other health care facilities should welcome the issuance of the proposed regulations because they generally clarify and liberalize former law. As pointed out, however, in certain instances the proposed regulations do impose additional requirements not found in current law. Accordingly, in those instances in which exempt facility owners may elect to apply the proposed regulations prior to their finalization, a careful analysis needs to be made of whether the old or new regime would be most beneficial.     

Removal of regulations regarding certification of drugs composed wholly or partly of insulin; companion document to direct final rule--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing this companion proposed rule to the direct final rule, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, which is intended to repeal FDA's regulations governing certification of drugs containing insulin and make conforming amendments to other sections of the agency's regulations. The agency is taking this action in accordance with provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA). FDAMA repealed the statutory provision in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) under which the agency certified drugs containing insulin. FDAMA also made conforming amendments to the act.     

AIDS drugs & the pharmaceutical industry: a need for reform.

The pharmaceutical industry has long enjoyed substantial profits despite increased requirements for drug approval and various attempts to regulate the industry. Drug companies have avoided effective regulation by blaming high prices on the costs of research and development. The search for drugs effective in combatting HIV and AIDS related illnesses has provided a stark background on which to view the actions and justifications of drug companies. Despite increased cooperation between government and the drug industry and expedited approval of several useful drugs, these drugs are still prohibitively expensive. This Article explores the history and economics of the drug industry and proposes a system of national price regulation for all drugs.     

New drugs for human use; clarification of requirements for patent holder notification--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend its regulations on notice of certification of invalidity or noninfringement of a patent to provide additional methods for new drug and abbreviated new drug applicants to provide notice to patent owners and new drug application (NDA) holders, without removing the existing means. These proposed amendments reflect current business practices and are intended to ensure that notice is provided to patent owners and NDA holders in a timely manner. FDA is also proposing to require certain applicants to submit to FDA a copy of the notice of certification.     

Ultrastructural pathology of mechanical skeletal muscle damage

In continuation of previous light microscope investigations the question has been raised whether the criteria determined for vital muscle damage using light microscopy, could be verified and perhaps extended for the ultrastructural region. In addition to existing human pathological material taken early post mortem, muscle tissue obtained from animal experiments was also examined. The evaluation concentrated on the muscle cells, the cell organelles and the contractile apparatus. An evaluation of semi-thin-sections was carried out in parallel. The following reaction patterns could be defined as vital reactions: hypercontraction bands, zones of rupture in narrow topological relationship to organelle changes, microstructure changes with disintegration of the fibre structure, subsarcolemmic and interfibrillary oedema, decomposition of the sarcolemma. The earliest vital reactions were detectable after only a few minutes survival time. The comparison between the results of animal experiments and human pathology and the application of the results to forensic pathology will be discussed.     

远离电击部位电流通路上骨骼肌的病理学研究

研究电损伤时骨骼肌中肌红蛋白(Mb)和纤维连接蛋白(Fn)的异常分布情况。采用大鼠模型和人体电击死标本,对电流通路上骨骼肌组织进行肌红蛋白、纤维连接蛋白免疫组化(LSAB)检测。结果显示:电流通路上肌细胞呈现深浅不同竹节样改变,免疫组化法见Mb脱失,Fn呈阳性,呈蟒蛇状纹理。电流通路上骨骼肌竹节样和蟒蛇纹理改变对无典型电流斑法医学鉴定有实用价值。     

Electrical excitability of skeletal muscle postmortem in casework

The paper gives a review of the development of methods of postmortem electrical excitability of skeletal muscle for determining the time since death. For practical application in casework, the following method can be proposed: position of electrodes in the orbicularis oculi muscle, stimulation by rectangular impulses of 10 ms duration, 30 mA in a repetition rate of 50/s. The muscular reaction on excitation is graded in 6 degrees according to the spread of movement and the intensity of contraction. To each degree a time information is corresponding (95%-limits of confidence). These 95%-limits of confidence were proved to be valid for cases of sudden natural or traumatic deaths. Exclusions: deaths after chronic lingering disease (shorter times), fatal hypothermia, haematomas, emphysemas of the eyelid (longer times). The practical application in casework together with the temperature method (Henssge 1988, 1) is described. Applying both methods the death time estimation in the early postmortem interval may be much more precise and accurate than using one method alone.     

Dissemination of information on unapproved/new uses for marketed drugs, biologics, and devices--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to issue new regulations pertaining to the dissemination of information on unapproved uses (also referred to as "new uses" and "off-label uses") for marketed drug, including biologics, and devices. The proposal, which would implement the dissemination provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA), would describe the content of and establish procedures for a manufacturer's submissions to FDA before it may begin disseminating information on the new use. The proposal also would describe how manufacturers seeking to disseminate new use information must agree to submit a supplement for that use within a specified period of time, unless a supplemental application already has been submitted or FDA has exempted the manufacturer from the requirement to submit a supplement. The proposal also would provide for requests to extend the time period for submitting a supplement for a new use, and it would describe how a manufacturer can seek an exemption from the requirement to submit a supplement. Additionally, the proposal would discuss FDA actions in response to manufacturer's submissions, corrective actions that FDA may take, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.     

双内参基因用于大鼠挫伤肌肉TAB2 mRNA表达量检测

目的比较和分析Rpl32和Rpl13作为单内参基因与两者作为双内参基因,用于检测大鼠挫伤肌肉组织中TAB2 m RNA表达量的结果。方法 78只SD大鼠,随机分为正常对照组(1组)和肌肉损伤组(12组)。采用自由落体法制作大鼠肌肉挫伤模型,分别于4h~48h之间12个时间点取肌肉组织,提取总RNA、合成c DNA、采用real-time q PCR法,以Rpl32和Rpl13作为单独内参基因和二者作为双内参基因检测大鼠肌肉挫伤组织中TAB2 m RNA相对表达量,并计算检测结果的变异系数。结果以Rpl32或Rpl13单独作为内参基因或作为双内参基因,TAB2 m RNA表达随损伤时间总体均呈现降低的变化规律,但使用单内参基因在24h和32h出现极高值,而用双内参基因计算未出现极值,且各结果的变异系数均较小。结论 Rpl32和Rpl13作为双内参基因用于计算TAB2 m RNA相对表达量,可提高分析结果的准确性,在相关实验中建议选择使用。     

人骨骼肌线粒体DNA4977片段缺失与年龄的相关性调查

目的 探讨人骨骼肌组织中线粒体DNA 4977bp片段的缺失情况及其与年龄的相关性.方法 收集105例不同年龄死者的骨骼肌组织,抽提MDT,通过CPR、琼脂糖紫外凝胶成像等技术,测定不同年龄组线粒体DNA 4977bp片段的缺失情况.结果 在105例样品中,不同年龄组(0～9、10～19、20～29、30～39、40～49、50～59、60～69、70～79、80～89、90～99岁)mtDNA4977片段缺失的频率分别为:0、0、0.003%、0.011%、0.015%、0.033%、0.038%、0.062%、0.069%、0.091%.结论 人骨骼肌线粒体DNA 4977bp片段的缺失频率随着年龄的增长而增高,各年龄组之间具有显著差异(P《0.01).该缺失片段的检测对于软组织年龄推测具有一定指导意义.     

1H-NMR studies of postmortem biochemical changes in rat skeletal muscle

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been applied to the study of postmortem biochemical changes in perchloric acid extracts of rat skeletal muscle. Several metabolites have been detected and the dependence upon the postmortem time has been considered. The simultaneous quantitative determination of metabolites showing up at very low and very high fields has been suggested to yield a satisfactory delineation of the thanatochronology.     

大鼠骨骼肌挫伤后ASCT2 mRNA的表达变化

目的应用实时定量PCR技术检测大鼠骨骼肌挫伤后细胞中性氨基酸载体ASCT2 mRNA表达,分析其与挫伤时间的关系。方法建立大鼠骨骼肌挫伤模型,分别取伤后4、8、12、16、20、24、28、32 h及对照组检材。提取总RNA,逆转录合成第一链的cDNA,以RPL13为内参基因进行荧光定量检测,采用2-△△Ct法比较其与对照组肌肉组织中ASCT2 mRNA的相对表达量。结果损伤组肌肉组织中ASCT2 mRNA在挫伤后12、16h表达量分别为对照组的196.40%和189.15%,损伤后4、8、20、24、28、32h ASCT2 mRNA表达量与对照组相比无统计学差异(P>0.05),说明ASCT2 mRNA在损伤12～16h其表达量较正常组及其他损伤时间组要高,而在损伤20h以后ASCT2 mRNA表达量又降至正常水平。结论大鼠骨骼肌挫伤后32h之内ASCT2 mRNA的表达有一定的时间规律性,可望作为推断骨骼肌损伤时间的指标之一。     

Removal of regulations regarding certification of drugs composed wholly or partly of insulin--FDA. Direct final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is repealing its regulations governing certification of drugs containing insulin and making conforming amendments to other sections of its regulations. The agency is taking this action in accordance with provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA). FDAMA repealed the statutory provision in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) under which the agency certified drugs containing insulin. FDAMA also made conforming amendments to the act. FDA is using direct final rulemaking for this action because the agency expects that there will be no significant adverse comment on the rule. Most of the amendments in this rule are a direct result of the repeal of the statutory certification provision. The remainder of the amendments repeal or update out-of-date, noncontroversial regulations dealing with insulin. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a companion proposed rule under FDA's usual procedure for notice-and-comment rulemaking to provide a procedural framework to finalize the rule in the event the agency receives significant adverse comments and withdraws this direct final rule.     

A sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human muscle-specific beta-enolase and its application for the determination of skeletal muscle injury

A sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human beta-enolase was developed and used to examine beta-enolase in blood or bloodstains as a marker for the determination of skeletal muscle injury. Human beta-enolase was purified from human skeletal muscle, and then an antibody against it was prepared. Polystyrene balls coated with rabbit anti-human beta-enolase IgG were incubated with human beta-enolase and then with anti-human beta-enolase Fab'-peroxidase conjugate. Peroxidase activity bound to the polystyrene balls was assayed by fluorometry using 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid as a hydrogen donor. The detection limit for human beta-enolase was 2.6 pg (30 amol) per assay. The degree of cross-reaction of the sandwich enzyme immunoassay for other organs except for heart (1/10) was about 1/150 or less. Moreover, the localization of beta-enolase in various human tissues was examined by Northern blot analysis, and this confirmed that beta-enolase was expressed only in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Antigenic activity in bloodstains containing beta-enolase was recovered well after storage for 60 days at room temperature. The ratio of beta-enolase to total protein in bloodstains made from non-traumatic blood, nasal hemorrhage and menstrual blood, was within the normal range. In contrast, the ratio of beta-enolase in bloodstains from traumatic blood was obviously elevated (10-30 fold) in comparison with non-traumatic blood. Furthermore, the ratio of beta-enolase was proved to be higher in stains adhering to weapons that had passed through skeletal muscle, indicating that detection of beta-enolase in bloodstains could be used to distinguish crime weapons. These results suggest that beta-enolase is a useful marker for identification of skeletal muscle injury as well as for detecting the origin of bleeding.     

大鼠骨骼肌损伤修复中FZD4时序性变化及其应用

目的以卷曲受体4(FZD4)为例,探索细胞膜上受体蛋白的表达变化能否作为损伤时间推断的指标。方法 78只大鼠随机分为对照组和损伤后4h、8h、12h、16h、20h、24h、28h、32h、36h、40h、44h和48 h组(n=6)。麻醉后,采用重力锤自由落体方式砸伤大鼠右后肢,取股四头肌处挫伤的组织。应用免疫荧光、real-time PCR和western blotting方法检测肌肉中FZD4蛋白及m RNA的表达量。结果免疫荧光结果显示FZD4表达于骨骼肌细胞膜上,胞浆和细胞核内均未见表达;Real-time PCR结果表明FZD4 m RNA在损伤后8h、12h、36h和40h显著上调(P0.05),均超过对照组的两倍;Western blotting结果示FZD4蛋白的表达在8h、36h、40h、44h和48h组明显增加(P0.05),但均未超过对照组的两倍。结论 FZD4 m RNA和蛋白在肌肉挫伤后呈时序性变化规律可作为损伤时间推断的指标,在一定程度上FZD4 m RNA比FZD4更适用于损伤时间推断。